
diss F14- 



!)()( 



k ■(l4a C3g 



I'UK.SKNTKI) l!V 



With the Compliments of 

MR. CHARLES J. McINTIRE. 



i 



■ f" 
1- 

\ 


^^HHBH^B^^^^^^E^^^^^I^Ir ' 



Dkxtki; Mk.mouiai, Ham, 



ADDRESS 



AT THE 



DEDICATION OF THE 

Dexter Memorial Town Hall 



CHARLTON, MASS. 

BY 

HON. CHARLES J. McINTIRE 



TUESDAY, FEBRUARY THE 

TWENTY-FIRST 

1905 

WITH EXERCISES, AND AN 
APPENDIX 



PRIVATE COPY 
1906 



.C^^-'/C^? 



Gift 
Autkor 
(Parson) 




Wii.i.iA.M 11. Dkxtki; 



PROGRAMME 



Afternoon 

TWO- THIRTY O'CLOCK 

PRAYER - - Rev. Geokge 0. Jenness 

SELECTION - - Schumann Quaktette 

INTRODUCTORY - - Rufus B. Dodge 

PRESENTATION of Town Hall and Library 

Building to Charlton - William H. Dexter 

ACCEPTANCE 



SELECTION 
ADDRESS 
SELECTION 
BENEDICTION 



A. Frederick Putnam 

Chairman of Selectmen 

Schumann Quartette 

Hon. Charles J. McIntire 

Schumann Quartette 

Rev. George H. Rogers 



CONCERT 



Cbcnins 

EIGHT O'CLOCK 



Reeves' American Band 



KIN^; O'CLOCK 

DEDICATION BALL 



Introductory Address by 
Rufus B. Dodge 

THE spreading growth of the colonies settled 
on the hills of New England. Hardy as the 
Norseman, bold as the Carthaginian, industri- 
ous and indomitable, the Puritan in religion and the 
patriot in state, leveled the forest, cleared the lands, 
built towns and villages, while buffeted by hardship 
and threatened by savages. 

Governor Bradford has told of the Plymouth Pil- 
grims a graphic story of death and misery, most ap- 
palling to the present living, all of which had been 
anticipated before the company started on their 
journey in search of civil and religious liberty, and in 
contemplation of which those intrepid spirits said : 

"It is not with us as with other men, whom small things can 
discourage, or small discontentments cause to wish themselves 
at home again. ' ' 

Sickness and exposure had the first season taken 
one-half the Plymouth Pilgrims, and yet not one of the 
survivors returned with the ship in the spring. The 
hearts of the remaining living beat strong with a great 
purpose, like pulse of ocean tide, impelled by unknown 
but resistless force to work out Nature's purpose. 

The settlement of New England was but an extension 
of Plymouth's people and those of like fibre and pur- 



pose. The hills of Massachusetts became sites of 
towns and hamlets, cleared by tireless industry, de- 
fended by bravery valiant as Caesar's, faithful as 
Leonidas', Church, town meeting, and school were 
the three primal objects of public concern wherever 
settlements were established. Life itself was not dearer 
to those people than were these three institutions in 
which their most earnest interest centered, and which 
were justly thought to constitute the corner-stone, arch 
key and crowning protection of their government 
structure. 

Thus was Charlton founded, by men, of quality richer 
than nobility, more royal in democracy than a king on 
his throne. On every page of her early records is 
reflected the essence of self-government by a people 
of Puritan strictness. Dissimulation in community 
affairs was unknown. Public deliberation was with- 
out favoritism, showing a spirit in ordinary matters 
surprising but refreshing to our own time. Couched in 
crude language the recorded votes, however, left no 
doubt as to meaning or sincerity. The will of a people 
ruled without a hindrance, lacking no vigor in initia- 
tive or execution. The times and vigorous, rugged in- 
tellect produced sturdy character. Families carried 
marked traits through generations because character 
and mental strength were dominant forces, while weak- 
ness, indolence and faint decision were a reproach. 

The history of Charlton has been honorable through- 
out. Her citizens have become known in every busi- 
ness and profession. Her name has been in honor 
carried across the continent by Towne and around the 
globe by Morton. She has sent soldiers to fight in 
every war, citizens to every state. She has seen the 



sturdy qualities of the first settlers continued through 
succeeding generations to this day, guiding true, public 
affairs down through the course of years. The loom 
of time is never idle ; the busy shuttle of current events 
flies rapidly, carrying into design strands of the hour, 
be they strong or weak, but if from the beam of the 
past there is supplied the honest homespun warp of 
original New England life, the garment of equal rights 
will still clothe a people in full splendor of perfect 
liberty. 

With justified pride we are here to receive, at the 
hands of one whose ancestor felled the first trees and 
planted the first community on the soil of the town 
beloved by us all, a gift so munificent and timely, it 
comes like a rich benediction from a son to his mother. 
Our benefactor of to-day is worthy of his ancestry. 
The qualities of his family have not weakened during 
the many intervening years since Obadiah Mclntire, of 
whom Mr. Dexter is a descendant, built the first house 
in Charlton. 

William H. Dexter was born in the western part of 
Charlton, January 11, 1823, in a house that has since 
burned down, but the site of which can still be seen. His 
father was John B. Dexter, a carpenter and contractor, 
born in Marlboro, Mass., and his mother was Lucinda 
Mclntire, daughter of Elnathan Mclntire, who owned 
a farm situated about three-quarters of a mile from 
Charlton City. Early in Mr. Dexter 's boyhood his 
father built a house near Elnathan Mclntire 's, where 
the Dexter family lived for four or five years, and 
then moved to Charlton City, near the David Dodge 
farm. There the Dexter family lived for several years 
and then the elder Mr. Dexter purchased a place near 



the present hotel in Charlton City on what is now 
called Main Street. William lived at home and at- 
tended the district school nntil he was about twelve 
years old, when a man by the name of Steer came 
from Bnrrillville, E. I., and took charge of the village 
hotel. William went to live with him, doing the chores 
for his board, and attending the district school in the 
winter, until he was fifteen. Mr. Steer then moved 
back to Burrillville and opened a country store, taking 
William with him, who worked in the store summers 
and attended school there in the winter. At eighteen 
he came back to Charlton, assisted his father in the 
grocery store at Charlton City, and attended school 
during the winter. At nineteen he went to Boston, 
where he had an uncle and brother living. While in 
Boston he was taken seriously sick and for nearly 
seven weeks was dangerously ill. On recovering he 
came back to his Charlton home for a few weeks and 
then returned to Boston and entered the employ of 
Paran Stevens, who had just opened the Newling House, 
afterwards one of the well-known hotels of Boston. 
Paran Stevens was one of the best-known hotel men 
in the United States and amassed a large fortune. He 
was proprietor of a number of hotels in different 
cities, and had a great capacity for organizing and con- 
ducting business upon a basis which brought him large 
patronage, as well as yielding him good profits. While 
he worked for Mr. Stevens, Mr. Dexter undoubtedly 
gained valuable experience which was of large benefit 
to him in later life. At the end of three years, Mr. 
Dexter 's health failed him and he came to Worcester, 
to which place his father had moved, and started a 
grocery store on Southbridge Street. 



In 1847 Mr. Dexter married Eliza A. Foss, a native 
of Livermore, Maine. One child was born to them, but 
died in its early infancy. For five years Mr. Dexter 
conducted a grocery business and then sold out to open 
a wholesale flour and grain store, in which occupation 
he continued for twenty years. He was elected vice- 
president and manager of the First National Fire In- 
surance Company, which position he held for three 
years, and then retired. After that Mr, Dexter built 
what was then one of the finest blocks in the city, at 
Franklin Square, and it was through his influence that 
Franklin Square was named. In 1873 he was elected 
treasurer of the Worcester Academy and since that 
time has had charge of the financial matters and the 
construction of new buildings, being treasurer of the 
institution during most of the time. In 1880 the Wor- 
cester Academy had only one building and four acres 
of land. Now the institution has five modern build- 
ings and thirteen acres of land, and it is generally con- 
ceded that owing to Mr. Dexter 's conduct of the finan- 
cial matters, this part of the institution has been 
developed to its present extent. Mr. Dexter and his 
wife became members of the Main Street Baptist 
Church in Worcester in 1855, since which date Mr. 
Dexter has been on the finance committee and treasurer 
of the society. 

Fifty-seven years ago Mr. Dexter erected the house 
on Main Street where he now lives. Mr. Dexter 's life 
has been busy and industrious through all these years, 
and since his marriage, he has had the assistance of a 
prudent and frugal wife to help him in his efforts to 
accumulate a fortune which would enable him to exer- 
cise that large benevolence upon which his mind has 



long centered. Economical and thrifty, with business 
sagacity developed by hard but wholesome experience, 
and a capable mind, he has achieved success far beyond 
the ordinary. 

Now turning to review the past, he reads aright 
life's lesson and crowns that success by an act 
prompted from motives unselfish as guide the life of a 
saint. Generous beyond measure of j^raise is the gift, 
telling of loyalty to the soil of his birth, unforgotten 
through toil of long years, shown now as the rich 
autumn tints and the golden grain of the sheaf reflect 
the sunshine of a beauteous summer. The gold of 
life's best possibility is never lost. It does not glisten 
like the dross and show of cheap commodity, but lies 
imbedded in the stolid quartz of circumstances, secure 
from weak and frivolous hands, but yielding its 
treasure in the fullness of time, unlocked by firm pur- 
pose and strong character, when its value to the world 
is greatest. 

Mr. Dexter has labored incessantly during a long 
and busy life to accumulate means not for himself but 
for his fellow man, to which end he now gives in full 
measure. Endowed with courage, keen business judg- 
ment, and strictest integrity, he now opens the deeper 
treasure of his nature, richer far than wealth. His 
years of activity, disclosed in their true light, stand 
forth bright with a purpose of broad benevolence 
which sends its rays into this good old town of 
Charlton. 

Through measureless time may these walls attest 
his devotion to the town of his boyhood, and recall to 
the passer a lesson of gratitude, endless and true. You 
who receive at his hands this building, adapted for all 

10 



the needs of a town, deserve the good fortune bestowed. 
From the hearts of a people genuine and pure comes 
appreciation measurable with this gift, leaving the 
giver a debtor still. He shall see for himself how you 
answer his kindness, and read from your faces thanks 
surpassing those expressed in the language of words. 



11 



Presentation of Building by 
William H. Dexter 

I AM more than glad that I have lived to see this 
building which we are now dedicating, completed. 
The annual home-gathering which we have en- 
joyed on Labor Day, for the past eight or nine years, 
has given to many of us a closer connection with our 
native town, and has been the means of suggesting a 
way in which this feeling now finds expression. The 
monument that stands at the entrance of this building 
is a fitting memorial of nearly two score of Charlton's 
sons who gave their lives in their country's defense, 
and will tell to future generations the part this town 
had in that conflict that preserved the Union and gave 
liberty to millions of our fellow men. 

At first, I thought only of erecting a Library build- 
ing, but the need of a town hall, and a suitable place 
for the town officers, seemed to be fully as great, and to 
accommodate all the people who came to the annual 
reunion in September, for all these purposes, this 
building, with its spacious hall, its library, and rooms 
for the town officers, as well as a commodious dining 
room, is erected. This building is modern in its con- 
struction, is heated with steam, lighted by electricity, 
and has its own system of water works and sewerage. 

Beautiful for situation, it stands not only as an orna- 
ment to the town, but shows in its every part the care 

13 



with which it has been constructed. Surely the archi- 
tect, Mr. C. L. Chamberlain, of Frost, Briggs & Cham- 
berlain, planned wisely and well when he conceived 
this splendid and convenient building. Faithfully and 
well have those plans been carried out by the builder, 
Mr. J. G. Vaudreuil. Mr. Vaudreuil, whose work I 
have known for many years, and has built some of the 
finest residences and best buildings in central Massa- 
chusetts, including three of the finest buildings of the 
Worcester Academy, under my supervision, was ably 
assisted in the stone work by Mr. Martin Wilson, who 
built the monument that stands near the entrance, in 
furnishing the cut stone in the lower part of the 
building. 

Mr. T. J. McAuliff, the sculptor, who designed the 
monument and carved the soldier upon it, made the 
tablet that is in the entrance hall. His work takes a 
high rank, both as to artistic quality and finish. 

From first to last, nothing but the best of material 
and workmanship has entered into its construction, and 
it stands, and will stand for years to come, a credit to 
its builders and an ornament to the town. 

I have tried to do something for my native town, and 
I sincerely hope the town's people will feel a like inter- 
est, and constantly seek to improve the common and 
highways. 

This building stands on the site where the old hotel 
stood for so many years, and where I attended dances 
in my younger days. I purchased the lot as a site for 
the monument. And now it gives me great pleasure to 
present this tract of land, together with the monument 
and building thereon, to the inhabitants of the town of 
Charlton, for their use and benefit. Therefore, I give 

14 



to you Mr. Chairman, their representative, this deed, 
transferring all my right, title and interest to my 
native town of Charlton, only asking that the grounds 
and monument be kept in good condition, the buildmg 
insured for a reasonable amount and kept m good 
repair, and if damaged by fire or otherwise, to be re- 
stored to its present condition. 

Please accept this my offering to my native town, 
and I hope as the years go by it will serve the purpose 
for which it is intended, and preserve the memory not 
only of the donor, but also of those who gave their 
lives for their country. 



15 



Acceptance for the Town by 
A. Frederick Putnam 

IF WE had been told ten years ago that inside of ten 
years we would be enjoying the privileges and 
advantages of one of the best equipped and con- 
structed electric roads in the State of Massachusetts, 
we should have doubted the proposition with the ex- 
clamation, That is impossible! To-day, as we observe 
the cars passing to and fro through the town with 
clock-like regularity, we have to acknowledge it as a 
fact and that Charlton is the gainer. Again, if we had 
been told in the year 1897 that through the results of 
celebrating Labor Day as our Old Home Day, we 
would be the recipient of a new town hall, built upon 
the most modern and improved plans, we would have 
probably replied, "After we see it, we will believe it." 
But, ladies and gentlemen, to-day we have assembled 
here in one of the best town halls located in Worcester 
County, the gift of one of our fellow and former 
townsmen, to celebrate this occasion with words of 
praise and acceptance. If I remember correctly, one 
year ago last Memorial Day, at the dedication exer- 
cises of the Soldiers' Monument which stands in front 
of this hall, Mr. Dexter quoted from the Bible, saying, 
"It is more blessed to give than to receive." The 
very expression on his own face to-day is a positive 
assurance of that, and it always has been since the 

17 



moment he became interested in this good movement 
for his native town. ' ' From the fullness of the heart 
the mouth speaketh." So from the fullness of Mr. 
Dexter 's heart we have this excellent building to re- 
member him by as one of his many generous and noble 
deeds. 

As generations come and pass, and as they enter the 
hallway below and observe the tablet erected by the 
citizens of this town to perpetuate the donor 's memory, 
we believe they will exclaim with one accord, ''"Well 
done, good and faithful servant." 

It is an honor, Mr. Dexter, which I highly appreciate, 
that it becomes, not my duty alone, but in behalf of 
every citizen of this town, great or small, to thank you 
from the depths of our hearts, and trust that through 
God's guiding hand, you and your companions' lives 
may be spared for many years yet to enjoy with us 
not only Old Home Day alone, but that you may here 
enjoy the fruits of your labors every or any day you 
may desire. 

Oh, if the selfish knew how much they lost, 
What would they not endeavor, not endure, 
To imitate, as far as in them lay, 
Him who his wisdom and his power employs 
In making others happy ? 



18 




Hon. Charles J. McIntjr] 



Address of 
Hon. Charles J. Mclntire 

THE eve of the anniversary of the birth of the 
Father of our Country seems a fitting time to 
dedicate to public use this commodious struc- 
ture erected and donated by the generosity of a grate- 
ful son of Charlton; so we come to assist at the conse- 
cration of one more of the many buildings standing m 
municipal communities throughout our land, which em- 
phasize^ the fact that self-government is secured to the 
inhabitants and that perfect freedom is accorded to all 
citizens in the management and control of their civic 

affairs. ,, „„fl^^ 

Our ancestors brought with them across the seas firm 
and feed ideas of liberty and polity, and here m the 
land of their adoption they found full opportunity and 
a broad field for their free develoiment ; and, f rom tHe 
time of their first landing upon our shores, the system 
of entrusting the direction of local affairs to the loea 
constituencies instead of to a central power, has been 
firmly and constantly insisted upon by them and by 
those who have followed them. 

The fundamental American idea of government is 
that from the people comes the source of ^^U P~ 
power, and that it is the people alone who have the 
right to exercise it. This principle was never better 
nor more tersely stated than by the well-known and oft- 



19 



repeated expression of Lincoln at Gettysburg, tliat we 
live in '*a government of the people, by the people, 
for the people." Upon this principle of government 
rests our entire political system, and consequently in 
every county, city and town in the United States, as 
well in the newly settled regions of the great West as 
in the older civilization of the East, there is found 
freedom of control and self-management by the in- 
habitants. 

An eminent author and authority on municipal law, 
in speaking of this liberty, truthfully says : ' ' The num- 
ber and freedom of these local organizations whereby 
political power is exercised by the citizens of the va- 
rious local subdivisions of a state who have a right to 
vote and to regulate their own domestic affairs, con- 
stitute a marked feature in our system of govern- 
ment. ' ' A town under this system is well defined to be 
''a community of which the citizens are members of 
the whole nation, all possessing the same rights and 
subject to the same burdens, but retaining the admin- 
istration of law and govermnent in all local matters 
which concern not the nation at large." 

Standing here to-day in the centre of the early set- 
tlement, surrounded by her beautiful hills, and grate- 
fully impressed with the inheritance which has come 
down to us from our ancestors, let us spend a short 
time looking into the founding and development of 
this typical New England town. 

It was nearly a hundred years after Governor Win- 
throp and his little fleet of eleven vessels sailed into 
Salem harbor before the territory occupied by the 
town of Charlton was given over to settlers. Under 
a colonial grant, and a purchase from the Indians, all of 

20 



that unoccupied land whieli remained west of the set- 
tled tract of about twelve thousand acres of Oxford, 
called "the village," had been held undivided and for 
speculative purposes since the year 1682, but after the 
death of Governor Dudley, who was one of the original 
proprietors, the Dudley heirs began to sell, in parcels, 
the portion which had been set off to him in his life- 
time by a deed of partition made in 1688, and the de- 
mand for these lands by settlers became so great and 
the sales were so numerous after the year 1721, that 
ten years later the purchasers procured an act of in- 
corporation as the town of Dudley. In 1727 and 1728 
the sales of the Dudley heirs included i3ortions of 
what is now Charlton, and in those years farm lots, so 
called, were conveyed to Ebenezer Moulton, Joseph 
Putney, the brothers Nathan and Daniel Mackintire, 
and their cousin Obadiah, men of Salem, all of whom 
took immediate possession of their lands. These five 
seem to have been the advance guard of the Salem pio- 
neers who took up lands in and near this town. Oba- 
diah was brother of Eleazer and both are direct an- 
cestors of Mr. William H. Dexter, the generous giver 
of this building. Eleazer came up later, in 1754, be- 
came a prominent citizen, was elected upon the first 
board of school conunittee, and received other honors 
at the hands of his fellow citizens. 

But it was the division and putting upon the market 
of the seventeen hundred acre tract of Thomas Freake, 
who had come into possession in 1688, which gave the 
great impetus to the settlement of Charlton lands. 
This tract of Freake included "the Centre," and was 
conveyed in 1730 to Freake Kitchin, the wife of Edward 
Kitchin in Salem, who soon afterwards divided it into 

21 



equal lots of one hundred acres each, and offered them 
for sale to neighbors and others who might wish to 
purchase. These lots were quickly disposed of and 
there began to come up from the coast hardy yeomen 
seeking new homes in the wilderness ; and along the old 
''Connecticut path," with their wives and children, 
their horses, their oxen, their cows and all of their 
worldly possessions, toiled the grandsons of the Puri- 
tans who had been driven from England by the intol- 
erance of King James, side by side with neighbors and 
friends whose grandsires were Covenanters, exiles 
from Scotland, who had been deported to this country 
as prisoners of war by Cromwell after their disastrous 
defeat and rout at Dunbar and Worcester, where with 
the second Charles they had striven to put down the 
Puritan commonwealth and its protector. 

These were the pioneers of Charlton. They were 
men of large frame and stout heart; stern in counte- 
nance, but of kindly spirit; dignified, earnest, patient, 
and industrious; God-fearing and law-abiding; relig- 
ious and intolerant, but thoroughly just; filled with 
ideas of individual freedom, but not shrinking from 
self-sacrifice ; with little outward show of affection, yet 
exhibiting deep sympathy in times of aflSiction; pos- 
sessed in fine with all the essential qualities for found- 
ing a new and lasting community in the wilderness. 
Nearly a hundred years before, by this same Indian 
trail, there had journeyed the pious and beloved 
Thomas Hooker, on his way from Cambridge to the 
wilderness in Connecticut, taking his parishioners with 
him, men, women and children, and his wife on a lit- 
ter; and, in the language of Winthrop, "they drove 
one hundred and sixty cattle and partook of their milk 

22 



by the way." Thus did our forbears journey before 
the days of personally conducted tours by Pullman 
cars and steamboat. The example set by Kitchin was 
soon followed by the proprietors of the Blackwell, 
Stoughton, Cox, and Thompson tracts, and before any 
movement was made toward a separate municipality 
all of those lands had been thrown open to purchasers. 
The ''Country Gore" on the north did not begin to be 
settled until about the year 1739. 

Thoroughly imbued with their New England ideas, 
our sturdy pioneers, with an abundance of energy and 
spirit, set themselves at work without delay to build 
their homes, level the forest, till the land, lay out 
roads, support the church and schools. A short time 
only elapsed before they found themselves subjected 
to inconveniences caused by their connection with the 
older settlement of Oxford, and their patience began 
soon to be sorely tried. They traveled over rough 
roads a distance of about ten miles to attend church 
and town meetings; they were compelled to pay for 
the support of schools at the village, which were so far 
from their homes as to be of little or no benefit to their 
children ; and, what was to them exceedingly aggravat- 
ing, the absent proprietors of the large undivided 
tracts by which they were surrounded, put cattle upon 
the open lands to graze, so that the improved and cul- 
tivated farms were overrun, trampled upon and de- 
stroyed, with little chance of interference, for the town 
pound was so far away that it was well nigh impossi- 
ble to drive the beasts there to be impounded. 

These and similar grievances became harder to bear 
after it was seen that they were disregarded by the 
people of the village, who outnumbered them at town 

23 



meeting and were heedless of their loss and discomfort. 
When it became necessary to build a new meeting- 
house for the town, in order to replace the old one, the 
people of the new settlement thought that such would 
afford an opportunity to place it in a location where 
it would be more convenient to them, and, in order to 
show their generosity of spirit, and a desire to assist 
in its erection beyond the amount which they could be 
called upon to contribute, they procured sufficient tim- 
ber for its construction, and also secured promises 
from some of the land-owners to give the land for its 
site ; but a meeting having been called to consider the 
matter, of which meeting many were ignorant, much to 
their chagrin and disquietude, by a preponderating 
vote the meeting-house was retained at Oxford village. 

After a time it became manifest to the settlers that 
no relief from their inconveniences and troubles could 
be had except by forming themselves into a separate 
community, and the question of setting themselves off 
from Oxford began to be agitated for a considerable 
period previous to making an application to the Gen- 
eral Court. Naturally this idea was opposed vigor- 
ously by the citizens of the older part, who had been 
already deprived, in 1731, of the thriving population 
of Dudley. Indeed, it would be rare to find such a 
spirit of self-sacrifice in a community as to view with 
equanimity a suggestion to deprive it of a large slice 
of territory, together with a considerable number of 
tax-paying citizens, and thus throw a greater burden 
of expense upon those remaining. 

By the year 1750, the feeling that thej should be 
made a separate township had become so greatly in- 
tensified that a strong petition therefor was prepared 

24 



and laid before the town. A meeting was held on May 
17th of that year, and, after much discussion, a vote 
was passed consenting to a set-off of all the lands 
which were west of a line two miles west of the village 
line, provided that the people of the Gore should join 
with them. This vote did not prove at all satisfactory 
to the petitioners, for they believed that the line of 
division should be not more than a single mile from the 
village, so they refused to accept the offer, and, upon 
June 12th of the same year, prepared a petition signed 
by seventeen of the principal citizens of the new set- 
tlement and nine of those of the Gore, and they pre- 
sented this to the General Court. The petition prayed 
that the citizens of the westerly portion of the town, 
together with those of the Gore -from a line drawn 
north and south one mile west of the village, with aU 
the Gore lying off even against these lands," be set off 
to form a new township. The petition moreover 
stated that a part of the signers did not belong to any 
town whatsoever, and that the other part were not m 
the least regarded by those who lived in the village ot 
Oxford when they selected a location for their new 
meeting-house; and further, that "it would be a great 
advantage to be put in such circumstances that they 
might have the worship of God set up amongst them." 
The town, however, was able to prevent the granting 
of their desire, and the agitation still continued. In 
1754 another petition was presented to the town at the 
March meeting, which was voted down, but, undis- 
mayed, on March 27th, a new petition to the General 
Court was signed by thirty-seven inhabitants askmg 
for relief. Among the many grievances recited at 
length in their new petition, they say plaintively, "We 



25 



were disheartened, and as we had got timber for our 
meeting-house and were much encouraged by the 
gentlemen owning land here, who offered to give the 
glass and nails; but being taxed so high for building 
the meeting-house and finishing it in the best manner, 
equal if not better than any in this country ; and many 
of us not knowing anything of the town meeting when 
the grant was made; and our paying for the support 
of the schools in town and having but little benefit 
therefrom," etc. 

It is noticeable that in this petition the people of the 
Gore did not join, also that it failed to ask that the 
lands of the Gore be included in the new township 
prayed for. And it is further noticeable, showing 
that there was some difference of opinion, that the 
names of seven of the Oxford inhabitants who had 
signed the petition of four years previous did not 
appear upon this. 

The ill feeling over the hardship of attending meet- 
ings at Oxford village must have commenced shortly 
after the settlement upon the Freake lands, for we 
find evidence as early as 1741 of the existence of such 
between the two portions of the town so widely sep- 
arated. In that year a respectable citizen at the 
Charlton end, so the record shows, evidently pur- 
posely absented himself from public worship — a more 
serious misdemeanor then than now — and he was duly 
summoned to appear and account for his misconduct 
before the Court of Sessions. There he pleaded that 
he lived at the westerly end of the town, a very great 
distance from the meeting-house, and that the roads 
were very poor so that it was well nigh impossible for 
him to get to the place of worship from his home. But 

26 



notwithstanding this excuse and explanation, whicli 
seems to us to have been quite reasonable, he was not 
permitted to go without payment of the costs of the 
prosecution. Feeling a sense of injury over the impo- 
sition of costs, he refused to pay them and suffered 
himself to be committed to jail rather than do so. 

This man at the time was forty years of age and a 
tax-payer, with a wife and children. He was a re- 
spected citizen and one of those who came up from 
Salem with the settlers in 1734, and took a farm. We 
find him among those who were most active in en- 
deavoring to set off a new town, and his name appears 
upon the several petitions therefor to the General 
Court. He was no law-breaker, but, with his sense of 
justice, and being made of the stuff of which the early 
Pilgrims were composed, for the purpose of emphasiz- 
ing his sense of injury, rather than admit himself to 
have been in the wrong, he would submit to any punish- 
ment imposed. It is told that his neighbors, whose 
cause he was representing, paid the costs to release 
him, and it appears that he was soon discharged from 
custody. 

But the time had arrived when the town became una- 
ble to defeat further the desires of the petitioners, and 
a favorable report was made upon their last petition 
by a committee of the General Court. On Friday, the 
tenth day of January, 1755, an act was duly passed 
setting off the inhabitants of the westerly part of 
Oxford, from a line one mile west of the village line, 
but not including the Gore, and establishing the terri- 
tory as the "District of Charlton." So that after 
many years of persistent effort their labors were 
crowned at last with success. No longer would they 

27 



be obliged to plod wearily over miles of bad roads to 
public worship on Sundays, nor on secular days to 
attend to the affairs of the town; henceforward they 
would be able to fix their own tax rates, manage their 
own schools, build their own roads. Surely this was a 
day for rejoicing. 

Let us picture in our minds the committee of citizens 
who, in the interest of this enactment, have been at 
Boston in daily attendance upon the General Court, 
anxiously watching the progress of the bill while it 
was discussed. What sjTupathy we have with them in 
their great pleasure as it passed its several readings 
up to the time of its final engrossment. With what 
anxiety they awaited the signature of Governor Shir- 
ley which finally made it a law. How delighted they 
felt when informed that it had been written and that 
the seal of the province was affixed. 

No wire had yet been stretched along the highways 
leading out from the capital over which by telephone 
or telegraph they might instantly convey the welcome 
news to those awaiting. No railroad had been laid 
over which they might have sped rapidly home with 
the good tidings. Even the roads were then so primi- 
tive that vehicles had to be driven very carefully over 
them to avoid accident. Our connnittee came on horse- 
back, as most people then did when they carried no 
burdens, and, being impatient to carry the news, they 
saddle their horses and push out over "the Neck" into 
the forest. It is dark when they start, but the ground 
being white with snow, which lies deep in the 
roads, serves to lighten their path. They put up at 
the village tavern in Framingham for the night, but 
are up early on Saturday and continue their journey. 

28 



As they approach the settlement they are met by eager 
ones on the lookout awaiting them, and these, receiving 
the welcome news, scatter to announce it to their neigh- 
bors. Word is passed from house to house of the good 
tidings, and great rejoicing abounds. Quiet only comes 
with the setting sun, which marks the beginning of the 
New England Sabbath, and the time for rest and 
prayer. 

It may be asked why Charlton was at first created a 
district and not a town. It was for the reason that it 
was against the policy then to increase the number of 
representatives to the General Court, therefore most 
of the new municipalities created were made districts, 
to which was accorded every authority, privilege and 
immunity of a town excepting that of electing a repre- 
sentative. Soon after the beginning of the Eevolu- 
tionary War, however, believing that the districts too 
should be permitted to take part in the important dis- 
cussions of policy in conducting the defense of the 
country, a general act was passed transforming all 
existing districts into towns with right of representa- 
tion, and on August 23d, 1775, in accordance with that 
enactment, Charlton then became a town. 

On February 10th, 1755, by the authority of the Gen- 
eral Court, a warrant was issued by Moses Marcy to 
John Dresser, as a principal inhabitant, requiring the 
latter to notify the residents of the district to assemble 
for the i3urpose of choosing their officers. They were 
called accordingly and notified to meet at the dwelling 
house of Ebenezer Mackintire on Wednesda}^, March 
12th. This house was the village tavern, and it stood 
here in ''the Centre," a little distance south of the spot 
where we are assembled. It was conveniently lo- 

29 



cated aud continued to be used for all the public meet- 
ings of the inhabitants, both civil and religious, down 
to the completion of their meeting-house in 1761. 

Come with me and look on in fancy at the assembling 
of the electors, and the birth of a town at a little village 
inn, in the early days of our history. It is March, the 
snows are still upon the ground and the sharp, biting 
winds come whistling through the trees and sweeping 
down the sides of old Mashamugget ; but the sun shines 
clear in the skies while the voters of the new district 
are gathering, some on foot and others riding or driv- 
ing in their rude sleds and other vehicles. The genial 
tavern-keeper, with his sons, is on hand to welcome and 
greet his neighbors and to assist them in sheltering 
their horses. Notwithstanding his fifty-five years, he 
is a fine specimen of the early settlers. With the fair 
complexion of his Scotch ancestors, he stands four 
inches over six feet in height, and is broad of shoulder, 
and rugged like the oaks upon his farm. With his 
own hands he has cleared and broken his lands, felled 
and hewn the logs of his first dwelling, and to-day is 
ready and well equipped to take such part as may be 
assigned to him in the building of a new municipality. 

After seeing to their horses, the people as they 
arrive pass into the house, where a fire of logs in the 
huge chimney-place sends a glow of cheerful warmth 
and comfort throughout the public room prepared for 
their meeting. About forty have obeyed the precept, 
and, as they stand in groups awaiting the call to order, 
they would be noticeable anywhere as examples of 
hearty, vigorous and intelligent manhood. All are 
yet in the prime of life, and being enured to hardship 
and privations by years of struggle, each has devel- 

30 



oped into a sturdy, self-reliant citizen imbued with 
high ideals of citizenship. 

Promptly, when the hour has arrived, John Dresser 
calls them to order and reads the warrant. While he 
is engaged in this, let us look about us and see who 
some of these people are who have come to elect their 
magistrates and organize a town government. Over 
there in the most distant corner, with Moses Aborn, 
stand together Ebenezer and James Lamb, grandsons 
of one of the early English settlers of the old town of 
Oxford. They are two of seven brothers, all stout of 
heart and strong of limb, of whom it is told that "they 
can raise a forty-foot barn," calling upon none other 
for assistance. The descendants of these Lamb broth- 
ers are destined to become among the most noted of 
Charlton's citizens. Near to these, somewhat to the 
right, are the three sons of Richard Blood of Belling- 
ham, Nathaniel, Isaiah and Richard, persistent men, 
every one of whom has been earnest and active in the 
movement for a new town. Beyond stand Solomon 
Harwood, Ebenezer Twiss and James Twiss, a resolute 
trio who came together from Salem in 1741 and took 
one of the Kitchin farms. A little behind these and 
nearer to where we are, is William Alton, a settler of 
martial bearing from Connecticut, the father of Benja- 
min Alton, who before long is destined to honor his 
town as a brave captain in the Revolution, and in his 
group stands Richard Dresser, the brother of him who 
is reading the warrant. Richard has already served 
Oxford as a selectman, and at this meeting he will be 
made a selectman and the first district clerk. The 
Dressers are among the most worthy of the citizens, 
and their many descendants in the future will reflect 

31 



much, credit upon the town. Nearer yet to us are 
Ebenezer Fosket, John Davidson, Thomas Hawkins, 
Daniel and Paul Eich, in a group with Jonathan and 
Eichard Clemence, all signers and tireless workers in 
behalf of the petitions for a new township. Fosket will 
be found later faithfully serving upon the committee of 
correspondence and safety of the town, with Ezra 
Mackintire, the son of the tavern-keeper, and the latter 
will hold the high honor of being chosen as the town's 
representative and delegate to the convention which 
will adopt the Constitution of the United States. Some- 
what to the left is John Nichols, likewise destined to 
become a captain and to perform patriotic service in 
the Eevolution. He stands with Samuel Streeter, 
another one of soldierly bearing who three years hence 
will be found fighting in the French and Indian War, 
and with them are Eleazer and Daniel Mackintire, 
Edward Chamberlain and Daniel Hobbs, sturdy, inde- 
pendent and forceful men. Near these are Jonathan 
Ballard with the brothers Obadiah and Ebenezer ]\Iack- 
intire, all three of whom before the meeting closes are 
to be honored by an election to the board of selectmen ; 
and a little removed is John Stevens, the name of 
whose grandson will soon become famous for his dis- 
covery of a means to prevent human agony; and by 
his side are Nathan and Jesse and Thomas and Job 
Mackintire, more of the early settlers from Salem and 
other descendants of Philip of Eeading. We see none 
of the worthy residents of the Gore here at this meet- 
ing, as they have not yet been taken into the new com- 
munity, and the best feeling unhappily does not exist. 
But the chairman has finished reading and is calling 
for a nomination of a clerk to complete the organiza- 

32 



tion. Richard Dresser's name is mentioned; he is 
chosen and takes his seat by the chairman. Nomina- 
tion for a moderator is made and he is chosen, and 
then follows the election of the five most prominent 
citizens as the first board of selectmen, and a clerk, a 
treasurer and other usual officers are chosen with little 
opposition. Congratulations are exchanged, and the 
meeting is adjourned, each departing with feelings of 
satisfaction that after their many years of struggle, at 
last they hold the control of affairs in their own hands. 

Thus was our town of Charlton started upon her 
municipal career, which has had an uninterrupted 
existence for a hundred and fifty years. 

On March 27th, schools were provided for by the 
district, and a month later, on April 28th, the ever 
troublesome question of a site for their meeting-house 
was again brought up, when it was voted to erect it at 
the centre, that being considered most convenient for 
all the people. The matter of schools received much 
early attention from the inhabitants, so that within 
five years after incorporation they had eight school- 
houses and as many school districts. 

In connection with matters of education, the fact 
that the public library of the town is to have its future 
home in this building, reminds me that it was in the 
year 1732, during the period when our pioneers were 
coming up to occupy Charlton lands, that the first cir- 
culating library in the world was established through 
the efforts of Benjamin Franklin. That library, 
founded at Philadelphia, gave the example and mo- 
mentum to all the free public libraries which now so 
universally exist. 

You will have noticed, probably, that the petition of 

33 



1754, asldng the General Court for a new township, 
unlike the one preceding it in 1750, failed to ask that 
the Country Gore be included as a portion of the same. 
The conunittee of that body to which the request was 
committed, however, included the Gore in the bill which 
it reported, but before the bill became a law it was 
amended, leaving out that territory. It is evident that 
there was contention among the people over the mat- 
ter, and that the change in the petition was an inten- 
tional one, for the names of several signers of the first 
petition do not appear upon the later one, nor do we 
find upon it the name of any resident at the Gore. 

"We find, further, that soon after the organization of 
the new district there is evidence of dissatisfaction 
among a considerable number of the people who be- 
lieved it to have been a mistake not to have taken in 
their neighbors of the Gore. It was claimed that the 
number of tax-payers incorporated were too few to 
meet with comfort the necessary charges attendant 
upon the proper management of a town or district 
government. 

At one of the earliest meetings the question of an- 
nexation of the Gore was brought up for discussion, 
but those opposed to the project proved to be then in 
the majority, and after an earnest advocacy by those 
who favored it, on January 1st, 1756, it was voted not 
to accept the Gore and not to join in a petition asking 
for its annexation to the district. Yet, before the 
month had passed they changed their determination 
and we find that thirty-four out of the fifty-three tax- 
payers of Charlton joined with thirteen of the Gore, 
and thirteen non-resident owners of real estate, in a 
new petition to the General Court for the annexation 

34 



of the Country Gore to the district of Charlton. In 
this memorial they say that "the inhabitants of Charl- 
ton are now very sensible that it is wholly impractica- 
ble, if not impossible, for them to carry on the affairs 
of a district, or in any measure support the charge 
necessarily arising from settling the Gospel among 
them." And, further, that "the inhabitants of the 
Gore are so situated that they can't be laid to any town 
with the least advantage, and are so small as not to be 
fit for a district by themselves, but if they were added 
to Charlton they would make a good town or district 
and be able to support public charges. ' ' 

This petition was not granted without opposition, 
arising principally from people living upon the ter- 
ritory which it was proposed to annex; whereupon 
further notice was ordered and the matter postponed 
until the session which would meet in the fall. It was 
June 3d, of the year following, before it received the 
favorable report of a committee, but shortly afterward 
the petitioners' prayer was granted and the Gore was 
incorporated into the district. On the date of annexa- 
tion there were thirty-nine tax-payers on the Gore, 
which gave quite a substantial total to the municipality 
and a generous addition to its resources. And the 
families which then came in, with their successors, 
have subsequently reflected the highest credit upon the 
town. 

As soon as the Gore came in, fresh difficulties over the 
site for a meeting-house arose. On July 28th, 1757, 
which was the month following the annexation, a com- 
mittee was appointed to provide preaching, and it was 
voted, without fixing any particular spot, to build a 
meeting-house at a convenient place. On November 

35 



22d of the same year, finding that there were many 
minds, and that they were miable to come to any 
agreement as to what would be a "convenient place" 
for its site, it was voted to appoint a disinterested com- 
mittee of three inhabitants of other towns to settle the 
matter for them, and thereupon Deacon Wheeler of 
Worcester, Samuel Chandler, Esq., of Woodstock and 
Col. Hezekiah Sabin of Thompson were selected as im- 
partial persons. They met, and after giving careful 
thought and consideration to the subject, made a report 
recommending the location which seemed to them most 
suitable, but the people were dissatisfied and refused 
to adopt it, although they did generously vote to pay 
six shillings and eight pence to Mr. Richard Dresser 
for the expense which he had been put to in entertain- 
ing the committee. Whether suspicions were held that 
the entertainment afforded by Mr. Dresser was of a 
nature which tended to prejudice the minds of the com- 
mittee toward his choice, or whether it was feared that 
it might in a measure have clouded their intellect, it is 
too late now for us to speculate upon. Happily the 
difficulty was soon after settled by an offer from Eben- 
ezer Mackintire to donate an acre of his land, in the 
most sightly portion of the centre, for the meeting- 
house and a training field or common, and the people 
by a vote of two to one accepted the offer. It is but 
justice to add that the inhabitants of the Gore were 
generously treated by the district to which they were 
annexed, for though greatly outnumbered they were 
accorded at the first meeting two out of the board of 
five selectmen, and likewise the important office of 
treasurer. 

Any narrative of the principal events connected with 

36 



the town would be incomplete without some allusion 
to its military activities during the wars for the exist- 
ence of the colonies, and for their liberty and freedom. 
It is familiar history that difficulties with the French 
over claims to territory began soon after the first Eng- 
lish settlements upon the coast. France, which by her 
missionaries and colonists had discovered and held the 
St. Lawrence, the Mississippi, and the Great Lakes, 
claimed ownership of the entire territory west of the 
Alleghanies, while, on the other hand, England, having 
occupied the Atlantic coast, made claim to everything 
which lay west of its settlements, and long before the 
pioneers came to Charlton there had been constant 
collisions upon the borders. King William's war, 
so called, nominally ended in 1697. In 1744 King 
George 's war was declared, and our early Charlton set- 
tlers shared in the general excitement which prevailed 
among the colonists. Some embarked with the forces 
raised by Governor Shirley for the attack upon Louis- 
burg in 1745, and all rejoiced when that citadel fell. The 
news of the departure of the great fleet of forty ships 
of war and three thousand men, which sailed from 
France June 22d, 1746, to recapture Louisburg and 
devastate the New England coast, caused great con- 
sternation, and an alarm was sent to every town and 
village to arm and prepare for the attack. Amid 
great excitement, Charlton, on the 24th of September 
of that year, sent her militia to Boston with that of the 
other towns of Worcester County. Quite fortunately 
for the colonies, however, was the tempest which scat- 
tered and wrecked this great fleet and permitted the 
militia to return to their homes without having to meet 
the enemy. 

37 



Peace was declared in 1748, but the important ques- 
tion of territory on tliis side of tlie ocean was avoided 
in the treaty, and therefore while the two countries 
were nominally at peace, the war between their sub- 
jects here continued as if there had been no treaty. 

In 1755, the year when the municipal charter was 
given to Charlton, war was again declared and Charl- 
ton patriotically sent her men to the front in two 
companies of Col. Timothy Euggles' regiment. She 
began then to make preparation for the final struggle 
between the two nations. At a meeting of the citizens 
in June, it was voted to lay in a stock of powder, bul- 
lets and flints for her militia. Minute men were 
raised, officered and drilled for immediate action, and 
many other precautions were taken. On July 9th of 
that year came the news of the humiliating defeat of 
General Braddock; and the name of George Washing- 
ton of Virginia, then a youth of twenty-three years, for 
the first time was brought to the general attention of 
the colonies, and even crossed the sea to Europe. Lord 
Halifax asked, "Who is this Mr. Washington!" From 
the unfavorable reports which the royal governors 
from time to time had been sending to the board of 
trade and plantations, representing the colonists as a 
turbulent, disloyal and altogether an uncouth and ig- 
norant people, it was hard for those on the other side 
of the Atlantic to believe that any one of those colo- 
nists could be possessed of either talent or merit, but 
as the years passed by England began to learn more 
of ''Mr. Washington," and to respect as well as to fear 
him. 

In 1757 Captain Eichard Dresser was put in com- 
mand of Charlton men, and by a vote of the town, his 

38 



house was made the magazine and storehouse of am- 
munition and arms. In August of this year came the 
startling news of the capture of Fort William Henry 
by Montcalm, the surrender of Munroe's entire force of 
over 2200 men, and the massacre by the Indian allies of 
nearly 300 of the prisoners after they had capitulated. 
The colonists heard with shame and indignation that 
Webb, the timid English general commanding 6000 men 
at Fort Edward, only a few miles from Munroe, was 
overcome b}' fear, and instead of hastening to the as- 
sistance of the beleaguered force, had ignominiously 
prepared to retreat. His messengers implored fran- 
tically for reinforcements. Dispatches were forwarded 
to the several colonies for aid. The message received 
by the Governor of Massachusetts exhibits the terror 
which pervaded the hearts of the British officers. It 
read, "For God's sake exert yourselves to save a 
province; New York itself may fall; save a country; 
prevent the downfall of the British government ! ' ' 

Demoralization existed everjnj^here. Those who 
lived west of the Connecticut river were ordered to 
drive in their cattle and destroy all of their wheeled 
vehicles ; and Loudon, who had recently arrived at 
New York with his splendid fleet of sixteen ships of 
the line, many frigates of war, and 10,000 trained 
soldiers, instead of going forth to meet and overwhelm 
the enemy, proposed to intrench himself upon Long 
Island and in this manner save the country. In the 
meantime, Montcalm, satisfied with his victory, quietly 
retired unmolested to Canada with his force of 6000 
French and Canadians and 1700 Indians. 

Little wonder that the tidings sent to the colonies by 
the British officers caused dismay and fear to seize 

39 



upon the people. Militia were summoned from every 
township, and every able-bodied man armed himself 
and hastened to the rescue. The alarm reached here 
August 10th, and before the day closed Captain Dres- 
ser's company, reinforced by the citizens, set out 
upon their long march to the scene of action. They 
hurried on until they reached the town of Sheffield, 
about a hundred miles away, where they were notified 
that the fear had subsided, and they were turned back 
toward their homes. Later, in October of the same 
year, there was another alarm, and Captain John 
Larned of Oxford hastily called together his com- 
pany, containing numbers of Charlton men, and 
marched them out as far as Westfield, upon what has 
been called the "minute expedition." 

Upon the expedition against Canada in 1758, Cap- 
tain Jonathan Tucker took Charlton men there with 
him ; and there were Charlton men with Captain Jere- 
miah Learned at the battle and surrender of Ticon- 
deroga and Crown Point in 1759, the year before the 
close of this war. The capture of Quebec, on Septem- 
ber 13th, 1759, was the death-blow to French posses- 
sions in North America. Montreal was taken in 1760, 
and by the peace of Paris in 1763, France gave over to 
England all of her possessions east of the Mississippi. 
The war gave to the colonists military experience 
which proved invaluable in their subsequent resistance 
to Great Britain, and likewise it impressed strongly 
upon their minds the necessity of union. 

They had but little time for rest after the settlement 
of their troubles with the French, before England 
began to oppress and attempt to deprive them of their 
liberties. In 1765 Parliament passed the stamp-act, 

40 



the news of which was received with a great burst of 
indignation, and the condemnatory resolutions prepared 
by Patrick Henry were approved throughout the land. 
''Sons of Liberty" were organized, and there was such 
popular resistance everywhere to the tyrannous meas- 
ure that two regiments of regulars were sent to 
Boston in 1768 to awe the people into submission. 

In September, 1769, James Otis was inhumanly 
beaten by British officers; and early in March, 1770, 
came the Boston massacre. News of these and further 
outrages spread rapidly among the people, and the 
citizens of Charlton, in common with the rest of the 
colony, began to prepare seriously for the inevitable 
struggle so plainly seen approaching. A committee of 
correspondence was organized by Samuel Adams, in 
order, as he clearly put it, "to state the rights of the 
colonists, and of this province in particular, as men 
and Christians, and as subjects; and to communicate 
and publish the same to the several towns, and to the 
world as the sense of this town (of Boston), with the 
infringements and violations thereof that have been, 
or from time to time may be made." His committee 
at once addressed the other towns of the province, and 
in response, on the 19th of August, 1773, our 
town of Charlton held a well attended meeting to con- 
sider what action should be taken upon the communi- 
cation received. With unanimity and enthusiasm pa- 
triotic resolutions were framed and passed, and, fully 
agreeing with the advice given, a committee of corre- 
spondence was appointed from her ablest citizens. The 
committee consisted of Jonas Hammond, Richard 
Dresser, Nathaniel Blood, Ebenezer Hammond, 
Stephen Fay, John Dresser and Ebenezer Foskett. 



41 



The written reply, as drawn by the Charlton commit- 
tee and adopted at this meeting, indicates the spirit 
which pervaded the entire province. Listen to its 
patriotic language and sentiment : ' ' Gentlemen : "We 
have taken into consideration the pamphlet sent us 
from Boston, wherein the rights and privileges of this 
province are clearly stated, and the infringements 
made thereon justly pointed out. We return our sin- 
cere thanks to the town of Boston for the vigilance 
and firmness in support of the country, which has been 
very conspicuous in that metropolis, and will heartily 
join in all such measures as may appear most con- 
ducive to the restoration of our invaluable privileges 
from the hand of oppression." 

Men filled with such sentiments as these might well 
be intrusted to preserve the right of free government 
which their ancestors proclaimed. How temperate the 
tone of this communication. How clearly expressed, 
and yet with what firmness of resolve it is filled! 
Before the year closed more than eighty Massachusetts 
towns had organized similar committees, and the}'^ had 
begun upon their work. 

The system of establishing committees of corre- 
spondence throughout the country proved to be a most 
wonderful help in the resistance to the tyrannous en- 
deavors of Parliament. Its effect was so great that it 
was bitterly criticised and assailed by those who ad- 
hered to the King. The forceful Tory pamphleteer, 
Daniel Leonard, in his emphatic language, styled it 
''the foulest, subtlest and most venomous serpent ever 
issued from the egg of sedition. ' ' He believed it to be 
"the source of the rebellion," and stated that he "saw 
the small seed when it was planted; it was a grain of 

42 



mustard." He *' watched the plant until it became a 
great tree." And Governor Hutchinson, in similar 
strain, said that the Boston committee was composed 
of ''deacons, atheists and black-hearted fellows whom 
one would not care to meet in the dark. ' ' But Fiske, 
in his history of the American Eevolution, looking 
back to what was accomplished by means of it, tells us 
that "the system of committees of correspondence did 
indeed grow into a mighty tree ; for it was nothing less 
than the beginning of the American Union." This 
system, so successfully inaugurated between the towns 
of our province under the direction of Samuel Adams, 
was early adopted and established between the several 
colonies, and it continued throughout the entire period 
of the Eevolution. 

Among those patriots who threw overboard the 
three hundred and forty-two chests of tea, at the 
"Boston Tea Party," on December 17th, 1773, was he 
who became afterward one of Charlton's foremost cit- 
izens, John Spurr, then of Dorchester. England 
closed the port of Boston for this act, declaring that 
it should remain closed until the tea was paid for. In 
the way of additional punishment, General Gage pro- 
mulgated an order forbidding all persons from attend- 
ing town meetings, and, learning that one was called 
at Worcester, he threatened to break it up with his 
soldiers if it was attempted to be held in defiance of 
his orders. Nothing daunted by his threats, he was in- 
formed that his soldiers would be met by the militia of 
Worcester County should he attempt to interfere, and 
that any action he should take against the holding of 
their meeting would be at his peril; and, with quiet 
determination to defend their common rights, and to 

43 



be pre]:)ared for the emergency, the surrounding towns 
began to get together arms and ammunition. On 
September 12th, 1774, Charlton voted to purchase one 
hundred and fifty pounds of powder, three hundred 
pounds of lead for bullets, and fifty dozen flints ; an in- 
dication that the response made to Gage was no empty 
threat. 

Events were hastening on to the final crisis. The 
provincial assembly, having been forbidden to tran- 
sact any business, met at Salem and organized itself 
into a provincial congress and adjourned to meet at 
Concord. Charlton, on October 10th, selected Captain 
Jonathan Tucker to represent her there, and at meet- 
ings on that day and in December, following advice of 
the Congress not to pay taxes to the treasurer ap- 
pointed by Gage, and to render no assistance what- 
ever to his troops, the town voted that it would furnish 
no implements, labor or other help to the British, and 
ordered the constables to pay over the taxes to Henry 
Gardner of Stow, to be used for the province under the 
direction of the Congress. 

To show the fearless determination of this Congress, 
let me read the closing words of its resolutions : ' ' No 
danger shall affright; no difficulties shall intimidate 
us ; and if, in support of our rights, we are called upon 
to encounter even death, we are yet undaunted; sen- 
sible that he can never die too soon who lays down his 
life in support of the laws and liberties of his country. ' ' 
Who can say that our system of free government by 
the people has not been jealously guarded and stoutly 
defended ! 

We find constant evidence of the untiring activity 
of the town in aid of the cause of liberty. Captain 

44 



Tucker was again chosen to the Congress which met 
at Cambridge on February 1st, 1775, and bodies of 
minute men were organized, equipped, ofificered and 
drilled ready for instant call to resist every attempt 
to enforce the detested *' Regulation Act" of Parlia- 
ment, which deprived the people of every semblance of 
self-government. A committee of prominent citizens 
was appointed for the town, to see that the directions 
of the Continental and Provincial congresses were 
strictly adhered to. At this meeting it was voted also 
to protect the constables in collecting and paying over 
the tax raised under the direction of the Congress. 

In England, Massachusetts was declared to be in re- 
bellion, and ten thousand regulars were raised to be 
sent over to conquer the province by force, if it did 
not tamely surrender all its claims to liberty. General 
Gage despatched a force, on the night of April 18th, to 
Lexington, to seize Samuel Adams and John Hancock 
and capture military stores at Concord. Early the 
following day the first blood of the Revolution was 
shed on Lexington Green. By noon the alarm reached 
Worcester, and, shortly after, the minute men of 
Charlton were up in arms and hastening on their way 
to join in the struggle. The dreaded war had begun 
at last, and was destined to continue through seven 
long and trying years before it should end with com- 
plete independence. 

In the face of the overpowering numbers and means 
arrayed against them, the colonies resolutely deter- 
mined, like the heroic Boers of South Africa in their 
recent struggle for freedom, to make the cost of its 
downfall a terrible one, which would "stagger hu- 
manity" and prove a lesson to the world. All of the 

45 



colonists echoed the words of the eloquent Henry, that 
''there is no retreat but in submission and slavery." 

On May 10th, Ticonderoga and Crown Point were 
captured with two hundred cannon and a large supply 
of military stores, which the colonies were in much 
need of. The militia, which had hastened on the 19th 
of April from nearly every town in the province to the 
assistance of their fellow patriots at Lexington, re- 
mained in camp at Cambridge and its vicinity and pro- 
ceeded to invest Boston. Our Charlton companies 
performed good service there and rendered assistance 
in the erection of the several fortifications on the hills 
of Charlestown, Cambridge and Dorchester. 

On the 17th of June the memorable battle of Bunker 
Hill was fought, with the glorious result of putting 
additional courage and confidence into the hearts of 
the colonists. 

From this time forward Charlton did her utmost in 
aid of the resistance to the British. During the war, 
out of a population of about thirteen hundred only, 
she furnished upwards of three hundred men for the 
Continental army. Her soldiers participated in many 
of the most memorable battles. Under Lincoln and 
Schuyler and Gates they were at Freeman 's Farm, and 
other conflicts, ending with Saratoga and the capture 
of Burgoyne. It is told that some were with Arnold 
and Montgomery in the heroic march and attack upon 
Quebec; and also that others were with Washington at 
Long Island and White Plains, at Trenton, Princeton 
and Brandywine, and at Valley Forge during the ter- 
rible winter of 1777. 

While her soldiers were in the field, those at home 
were doing everything possible to aid them. Early in 

46 



1776 Daniel Streeter was sent to the army to distribute 
blankets. On June 17th, 1776, the anniversary of 
Bunker Hill, and two weeks before independence had 
been declared at Philadelphia, the town voted to sup- 
port the Continental Congress in declaring the colo- 
nies independent of Great Britain, "to the extent of 
their lives and fortunes, if they thought it expedient. ' ' 
In 1777, on March lOtli, a committee recommended that 
a bounty of £20, in addition to the bounty given by 
Congress, be raised "for good, able-bodied men to 
serve in this unnatural and unjust war." On Feb- 
ruary 2d, 1778, a committee was appointed to receive 
subscriptions for the Continental soldiers enlisted for 
the town, and to convey the amount to the men in the 
field. On March 2d of that year, another committee 
was selected with authority to provide for the families 
of Continental soldiers; and later, on April 2d, still 
another to provide shirts, stockings and shoes for men 
in the army. On March 1st, 1779, £900 was voted to 
provide for the families of soldiers, and in that year 
and the one following committees were appointed to 
see that the soldiers ' families did not want. 

Upon these many committees, which from time to 
time were chosen to act during the period of the Revo- 
lution, appear the names of the leading citizens of the 
town, many of whom were of the original settlers, now 
grown too old for active service in the field, but willing 
and desirous to do whatever lay in their power to 
assist the cause with which they had such deep sym- 
pathy. As an indication of their sincerity and patriot- 
ism, let us reflect upon the fact that this little hill town, 
in 1788, had paid in bounties £7912, in hard money, 
amounting to nearly $40,000, in addition to all her ex- 

47 



penditures for arms, ammunition, blankets, clothing 
and shoes, and also in addition to her care of the needy 
families of soldiers. I doubt if this record can be 
excelled. 

During the Civil War, Charlton did its full duty 
toward maintaining the integrity of the Union. She 
furnished two hundred and thirteen men for the army, 
which was eighteen more than her quota, and many of 
these gave up their lives for the cause, as may be seen 
by the inscription upon the monument to their honor 
which stands in front of this building. She paid 
liberal bounties and gave additional pay to the volun- 
teers, besides a weekly allowance to their wives and 
minor children. Twenty-two thousand dollars was 
appropriated and paid out for her soldiers, exclusive 
of the sums contributed for state aid. 

The attention and money of the inhabitants having 
been given to the defense of the colony in the time of 
its peril, the completion of their meeting-house was 
delayed until 1761, in which year, on January 6th, the 
first meeting was called in the new edifice. In May a 
call was extended to the Kev. Caleb Curtis to settle in 
the ministry, which call he accepted and he was duly 
ordained on October 15th. Here he remained in 
charge until he was dismissed by his own request in 
1776. After the district had become a town, he was 
sent as a delegate to the Provincial Congress at 
Watertown. In 1787 he represented the town in the 
General Court, and he died in 1802, upon his farm, at 
the age of seventy-five years, much respected and 
beloved. 

Ministers of the Gospel continued to be selected and 
supported by the town down to the year 1782, when the 

48 



law providing that towns should be obliged to support 
them having been repealed, by a vote of 106 to 55, in 
the negative, it was determined that in the future the 
moneys necessary for their support should be raised 
by free contributions from those who attended the 
services. 

There are several buildings in Charlton wherein 
town and district meetings have been held since in- 
corporation, and all of these but one, wherein three 
meetings only were held, stood within three hundred 
feet of this hall. 

As before stated, down to the year 1761 all meetings, 
both civil and religious, were held at the house of 
Ebenezer Mackintire. On January 6th, 1761, the first 
meeting was held in the new meeting-house, which 
stood upon the common east of us, given by him for 
that purpose. This structure was 50 x 40 feet in di- 
mension, shingled on the outside, and no doubt con- 
structed with a hip roof in the ancient style, and with- 
out spire, tower or bell. It continued to serve as a 
town-house until November 15th, 1802, when the last 
business meeting was held there. It was while meet- 
ings were in this building that the Legislature sepa- 
rated the state from the church, and the church became 
obliged to depend for existence upon voluntary con- 
tributions. The next town meetings were held in the 
new Centre Congregational Meeting-house, erected in 
1798 on the easterly side of the road upon which the 
first meeting-house stood. The town voted to pay for 
its use thirty dollars a year, on any days but Sundays, 
Fast and Thanksgiving days, and held its first meeting 
there onMarch 7th, 1803. During the latter year the old 
meeting-house was torn down. This third place of town 

40 



meetings continued to be so used until the close of the 
year 1816, which was about the time of the so-called 
''Unitarian Controversy." On March 3d, April 7th 
and May 5th, 1817, town meetings were called at the 
north side in the house owned by the Baptists, but this 
place proving to be inconvenient to many people, the 
hall over Major Spurr's brick store, to the north of 
us, was secured, and on March 2d, 1818, the first 
meeting there was held, and that hall was used by the 
town until 1822, when, having acquired a controlling 
interest in the "New Centre Meeting-house," it was 
styled the "Town House," and was again used for 
town purposes until April 1st, 1839. The Union So- 
ciety was formed after 1830, from a union of the Uni- 
tarians at the Centre and the Universalists at the 
Northside, and, having come into possession of the 
rights in the building of the New Centre Congrega- 
tional Society, it resolved to destroy the same and to 
erect a new and smaller one upon its site. This could 
not be done, however, without consent from the town, 
which caused much discussion, finally to be settled by 
an agreement whereby the town consented to construct 
a basement foundation suitable for town meetings and 
town business, when the society would build their 
meeting-house upon this foundation, and keep it in 
repair, or forfeit it to the town. The town was to 
receive, moreover, the sum of three hundred and 
thirty-three dollars toward the cost of the basement. 
One town meeting was held in the hall of the old Spurr 
Tavern in July, 1839, before the new house was ready 
for use. On November 11th, 1839, state election was 
held in the "New Town House," which has continued 
in service until the erection of this building. 

50 



The old tavern, wherein the first Charlton meetings 
were held, was taken down some fifty years ago and 
remodelled as a tenement house on the road leadmg 
from Southbridge to Sturbridge, where it may still be 



seen 



So manv of her sister towns having passed her m 
population and wealth, what has the town of Charlton 
accomplished! Is there anything of which she may 
be particularly proud 1 She has no extensive factories 
or huge mills, for there is no adequate power to turn 
their wheels. Commerce has not brought to her wealth 
and luxury, for there is neither sea nor river upon 
which to construct great docks and wharves. Rail- 
roads do not cross and recross each other withm her 
territory, making her a centre and depot, thereby 
bringing the business and prosperity which accom- 
panies such good fortune. There are no fisheries upon 
her waters, no minerals in her soil. Being handicapped 
in these and many other ways, her people have been 
enticed away from her, and other towns have out- 
stripped her in population and material prosperity. 
With all these drawbacks and limitations to her prog- 
ress, what, then, has been left for her to produce ? 

I replv that in order to manage factories and 
mills; to build and steer the ships, and handle and dis- 
pose of their precious cargoes; to construct railroads, 
engines and cars, and to manage them and the pas- 
sengers and freight which they convey; to dig and 
smelt the ores, and to fashion them into intricate ma- 
chinery, implements and ornaments; to build up and 
govern 'great towns and cities; to fill the professions 
and to establish trade and commerce,— in fine, to do all 
which the advance of civilization demands, requires 



51 



men; and everywhere, in every profession, every 
trade, every emplojTnent they are in search of men, 
men of character, men of honesty, men of energy and 
strength, of determination and purpose. And here, 
among her quiet hills, Charlton mothers have been 
raising men of the good old New England tyiDe, in- 
heriting her valuable traits, and educated in her ideas 
and traditions ; and she has been sending them out over 
this broad land to fill required places and to reflect 
credit and honor upon herself. The sons and de- 
scendants of those early settlers, taught in the excel- 
lent school of privation, educated that it is honorable 
to labor, wise to economize; inheriting the strength of 
body, the vigor and acuteness of intellect, the courage 
and determination, the honesty and earnestness of 
their fathers, have gone forth to fill positions of trust 
and honor in larger fields. Of this, then, the town may 
well boast, and challenge others for comparison. 

Let us give a moment's attention to an example 
among the numbers of these. On the ninth day of 
August in the year 1819, there was born at Charlton 
one to whose determination and persistency, in spite 
of obstacles sufficient to have discouraged most per- 
sons, the whole civilized world is, and for all time to 
come will continue to be deeply grateful and indebted. 
He was possessed of no overpowering intellect or 
great genius, was only an ordinary Charlton boy with 
the limited opportunities of her schools, but inheriting 
her valuable traits and educated in her ideas and tra- 
ditions. As a youth of seventeen he went out into the 
world to carve his fortune. Carefully saving his hard 
earned money in mercantile pursuits, he added to his 
education and assumed a profession. Of this profes- 

52 



sion he held more than an ordinary love, and in it he 
determined to make himself known and felt. Its prac- 
tice brought to his attention constantly the pain which 
attended minor surgical operations, which caused him 
to reflect upon the excruciating agony suffered by 
those compelled to submit to the severer ones under 
the knife. Soon he resolved to devote his time and 
opportunity, his energy, money and services to the at- 
tempt to relieve humanity from such torture. His 
pursuit of this aim became constant. He read, searched 
and enquired. He experimented and persevered, never 
disheartened by temporary failure, nor by the sneers 
and discouragements with which he was constantly 
met, until finally conquering every opposition, he 
proved to the world that the long sought for discovery 
of surgical anaesthesia was made, and that under the 
influence of his anaesthetic the severest operations 
were painless, and might be performed with safety, 
and even without the knowledge of the patient. 

The Charlton boy to whom this great discovery is 
now conceded, was William Thomas Green Morton, a 
descendant of John Stevens, who came up from Essex 
County with the settlers and became one of the found- 
ers of the town, and the name of Doctor Morton will 
be upon the lips and in the grateful prayers of people 
in every civilized nation long after the memory of 
great conquerors, great statesmen, great rulers, has 
faded and been lost. 

Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, in speaking of surgical 
anaesthesia, says it was first accomplished by ''Doctor 
Morton, at the risk of his reputation, and with a cour- 
age and perseverance without which even had the idea 
of the possibility of such effects been entertained, the 



53 



world might have waited centuries or indefinitely be- 
fore the result was reached." And with his usual 
poetical expression, describing its effect, he wrote: 
''The fierce extremity of suffering was steeped in the 
waters of forgetfulness, and the deepest furrow in the 
knotted brow of agony was smoothed forever. ' ' 

Dr. R. M. Hodges said of him: ''The lapse of time 
has but magnified and confirmed Dr. Morton's right 
to consider ever}^ human being his debtor. ' ' And upon 
the stone of his tomb, at quiet Mount Auburn, where 
repose the remains of this eminent son of Charlton, 
Dr. Jacob Bigelow has written this memorial epitaph : 

"Inventor and revealer of anaesthetic inhalation 
Before whom in all time surgery was agony 
By whom pain in surgery was averted and 

annulled 
Since whom science has control of pain." 

If Charlton has no other claim to fame and universal 
gratitude than the fact of having given to the world 
one whose conception, perseverance and courage first 
established the astonishing fact that a human being 
may pass under the terrible knife and saw of the sur- 
geon with nerves untouched by the slightest feeling of 
torture; that the soldier, torn and mangled upon the 
field of conflict, may be wholly relieved of agony while 
his wounds are probed and cared for and his mutilated 
members removed; that the mother may pass in un- 
conscious slumber through the perils of childbirth, to 
wake to her new hapiness without one memory of its 
pain; and that the human body may undergo every 
condition without a single sensation of agony — that 
alone should place her in the front rank ! 

Of the efforts and success of many other sons of 



54 



Charlton, I might speak if time would permit. The 
name of Moses Dresser Phillips occurs to me, the 
founder of the important ''Atlantic Monthly Maga- 
zine;" of Julius H. Ward, the eminent doctor of di- 
vinity, and for a long time literary editor of a promi- 
nent New England newspaper ; of Alban N. Towne, of 
railroad fame, whose reputation extends from the 
eastern to the western coast; of Amasa Stone, another 
railroad man of fame ; of Linus B. Comins and Phineas 
Jones, members of Congress; of Daniel Phillips, one 
of the organizers of the great Adams Express Com- 
pany; of General Salem Town and General Spurr and 
' ' Squire ' ' William P. Marble, and many others whose 
names will recur to you, whose struggles and achieve- 
ments have brought renown to themselves and honor 
to the town of their birth. 

Since the time when our country threw off the yoke 
of Great Britain, we have become a nation of eighty 
millions of people, and our territory has extended from 
the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the Behring Straits to 
the Gulf of Mexico. We have grown vast and power- 
ful, and, particularly since the Civil War, we have in- 
creased wonderfulh^ in prosperity. The growth of 
trade, the inventions in machinery, the fertility of the 
soil, and the discovery of minerals and in electrical ap- 
pliances has put into the hands of individuals and cor- 
porations great and almost incomprehensible wealth 
and power. This favored country, our free institu- 
tions, the glorious liberty of self-government earned 
by the persistency and preserved by the blood of our 
ancestors, all are ours to enjoy and to preserve. And, 
in the words of Webster, to us is given the grave and 
important duty of transmitting these great blessings 
unimpaired to posterity. 

55 



Our cities have become crowded with people, at- 
tracted not alone from the rural districts, but many 
hail from distant lands where freedom and self-gov- 
ernment are unknown, and where the blessings of such 
are still untaught. The city of New York exceeds in 
population that of the entire thirteen colonies in 1775. 
The possession of riches, and the greed developed in 
the rush of seeking for them, unfortunately has 
tempted many of our people to depart from the early 
ideas founded upon the great doctrines of the Consti- 
tution and the Declaration of Independence. No 
longer need we fear the wily Indian nor foreign foe; 
the present danger is from ourselves, who, in our 
prosperity, are inclining to allow the spirit of commer- 
cialism to overcome the principles of freedom upon 
which our country was founded, and which have been 
transmitted to us to preserve as a sacred trust. 

Doctrines which would have sounded strange to our 
ancestors, of late have not only been justified but have 
been applied and are sought to be perpetuated. There 
is danger in this departure from the principles of the 
fathers. There is danger in this indulgence to the 
principles of greed. Repeating solemn words of warn- 
ing recently spoken in the Senate of the United States, 
I say, ''Our danger to-day is from the lust of empire." 
History warns us that the same temptation which now 
besets us, lured and brought to ruin the powerful 
ancient republics. May we be able to resist and avert 
that danger as we resisted and averted the peril of 
disunion. 

Yes, while all the throned powers of the world are 
rejoicing over our vacillation, and are enticing us into 
an evil departure from the principles upon which our 

56 



government was founded, may a kind providence give 
us strength to resist and overcome this great temp- 
tation. 

I hold a firm belief in the people, a belief that in the 
end we shall be able to avert the danger. Repeating 
the eloquent language of our lamented Senator Hoar : 
''I have an assured faith in the future. I have an as- 
sured faith in justice and the love of liberty of the 
American people. The stars in their courses fight for 
freedom. The Ruler of the heavens is on that side. 
If the battle of to-day go against it, I appeal to another 
day not distant and sure to come. I appeal from the 
clapping of hands and the stamping of feet and the 
brawling and the shouting, to the quiet chamber where 
the fathers gathered in Philadelphia. I appeal from the 
spirit of trade to the spirit of liberty. I appeal from 
the empire to the Republic. I appeal from the mil- 
lionaire, and the boss, and the wire-puller, and the 
manager, to the statesman of the elder time, in whose 
eyes a guinea never glistened, who lived and died poor, 
and who left to his children and to his countrymen a 
good name far better than riches. I appeal from the 
present, bloated with material prosperity, drunk with 
the lust of empire, to another and a better age. I ap- 
peal from the present to the future and to the past.'' 

These fervid words will go down in history with 
those of Burke and Fox, to both stimulate and restrain 
the youth of future generations. 

"Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, ^^ 
Where wealth accumulates and men decay. 

Hopefully, then, we turn from the great centres of 
wealth and personal ambition, to the more serious and 

57 



tlionglitful -minded citizens of tlie town, for tlie preser- 
vation and reassertion of the great principles of our 
government. Let ns endeavor to keep continually in 
mind the great doctrines set forth in the Declaration of 
Independence: ^'The equality of the individual man 
with every other in political right. The right of every 
people to institute their own government, laying its 
foundation on such principles and organizing its pow- 
ers in such form as to them shall seem most likely to 
effect their safety and happiness, and so to assume 
among the powers of the earth the separate and equal 
station to which the laws of nature and of nature's 
God entitle them." 

May this edifice, placed so conspicuously upon the 
site of the early settlement, long stand for the purposes 
to which this day we dedicate it, as well as a reminder 
of the generous benefactor who has bestowed it. May 
it serve as a memorial of those priceless benefits which 
have been transmitted to us by our ancestors. May it 
ever keep before us the achievements of the founders 
of Charlton, and their sentiments of justice, of freedom 
and independence, and foster a resolve in us never to 
depart from their noble precepts and heroic examples. 
And, finally, may it constantly remind us of those glo- 
rious principles of liberty upon which were built the 
foundations of our national power and prosperity. 



58 



APPENDIX 




A. FitKDKlUCK I'lTXAM 

Selectman 



The Town of Charlton. 

FROM WHENCE IT DERIVED ITS NAME. 

[This article was kindly contributed by Walter Kendall Watkins, Esq.] 

TRADITION has handed down to students and writers of the 
town histories of Massachusetts, during the last century, 
that it was the custom of the Provincial governors to fill in a 
blank space, left for that purpose in the incorporation of a 
town or district, with the name of some friend, patron or 
English locality in which they were interested. 

I have made a collection of views and data of English local- 
ities whose names have been perpetuated in our New England 
towns. 

From my notes on this subject I have formed the following 
theory on the naming of Charlton, JVIassachusetts : 

William Shirley was governor in 1754, and engaged in 
treating with the Eastern Indians and exploring the Kennebec, 
where he erected two or three forts, and in 1755 was at Niagara 
and Oswego. 

The lieutenant-governor was Spencer Phips of Cambridge, 
and in the absence of the governor it devolved on Phips 
to name the district. It was in 1754 that Phips' daughter, 
Mary, had married Richard Lechmere of Boston, and she 
afterwards inherited part of Phips' estate and gave to Lechmere 
Point its name. Richard Lechmere was the son of Thomas 
and Ann (Winthrop) Lechmere of Boston. The father, 

61 



Thomas Lechmere, was no less a person than "Surveyor- 
General of His Majesty's Customs in Northern District of 
America." This position he held through his influential con- 
nections in England, his uncle being Nicholas, Lord Lech- 
mere of Evesham, who was succeeded in 1727 by Edmund 
Lechmere of Hanley Castle, another nephew and brother of 
Thomas of Boston. Edmund Lechmere married a daughter 
of Sir Blundell Charlton of Ludford, County Hereford, Eng- 
land. Sir Blundel was succeeded in 1742 by his son, Francis, 
who was one of His Majesty's Privy Chamber and Receiver- 
General of the Post Office in 1755. Sir Francis was succeeded 
by his nephew, Nicholas Lechmere, who took the Charlton 
name. 

Of the localities in England bearing the name of Charlton 
there are no less than twenty, the best known being the parish 
of Charlton, Kent, on the borders of Blackheath, near London, 
between Greenwich and Woolwich. 



62 



The Address. 



THE committee in charge of the dedicatory exercises sought 
to secure a descendant of one of the first settlers and 
founders of the town to deliver the principal address, and 
their choice fell upon Judge Mclntire of Cambridge, whose 
father, Ebenezer, was a native of Charlton and a lineal 
descendant in the fourth o^eneration of the "Ebenezer Mack- 
intire" of the first board of selectmen, at whose house the 
first town (district) meeting was held. 

The following invitation was sent by the chairman of the 
committee, viz. : 

" Worcester, Oct. 4, 1904. 

Hon. Charles J. McIntire, Cambridge, Mass. 

My dear Mr. Mclntire : Mr. William H. Dexter of this city, who 
was bora in Charlton and is a descendant of the same Mclntire 
family as yourself, is erecting in the town of Charlton a town hall and 
library building which will be completed and ready for dedication in 
April or May next. It would be very agreeable to Mr. Dexter and 
the people of Charlton if you would dehver the address upon that 
occasion. 

If I am not mistaken, the building stands upon land originally 
owned by your ancestor, Ebenezer Mclntire. It would seem par- 
ticularly appropriate that a descendant of the first settler should be 
the principal speaker at the dedicatory services. 
Very truly yours, 

RuFus B. Dodge." 



63 



The Mclntires, or " Mackintires," 
of Charlton. 



THE Mclntires who settled at Charlton were descendants of 
Philip Mackintire of Reading, Massachusetts, most of them 
through his son Daniel, who died at Salem in 1729. 

About the time of the Revolutionary war many of the family 
began to abbreviate the name to Mclntire and Mclntyre. 
Before then it appears in nearly all the records as Mackintire, 
or Mackintier. 

PHILIP MACKINTIRE. (1.) 

Philip Mackintire came, a youth, from Scotland and settled 
at Reading, Massachusetts, about 1648. He was born, prob- 
ably at Argyle, about 1630, and the town records of Reading, 
and the Court files of Middlesex County, Volume 1, Births 
and Marriages, show that he married Mary, (surname not 
given,) August 6, 1666. He was a much respected citizen, 
and died at Reading at an advanced age, in December, 1719. 
His estate was settled by his son David, in the Middlesex 
Probate Court, No. 10295, old series. In Essex County court 
files of November 24, 1653, we find that Robert Mackintire, a 
witness in a trial, was then twenty-four years old and employed 
at the Lynn Iron Works. About 1650, Malcom (sometimes 
called Micom) Mackintire settled at York, Maine, where he 



64 



has left a large number of descendants. These three Mackin- 
tires, including Philip of Reading, were probably of the same 
family, perhaps brothers, and exported to this country by 
Cromwell among the prisoners of war taken at the battle 
of Dunbar or of Worcester, where over 10,000 Scotch High- 
landers and other followers of Charles were captured and sent 
to the Colonies. 

Philip's name a[)pears in the list of inhabitants that drew 
land in the division of the " Great Swamp," Reading, in 1666, 
and in that year he paid ten shillings as a minister rate. In 
1686 in a "Coppie of a rate made to be payd in money to 
be payd to the Indians for the purches of the town's land," 
we find him taxed ; and in 1688 he appears as a contributor 
of £3, to a subscription for the new meeting-house. Shortly 
before his death he conveyed his homestead at Reading to his 
son David. 

Philip's children, all born at Reading, were Philip (2,) 
b. Mar. 15, 1667, m. Rebecca Williams of Salem, Feb. 20, 
1695. Thomas (3,) b. and d. 1668. Daniel (4,) b. Sept. 
20, 1669, m. Judith Putney, daughter of John and Judith 
(Cooke) Putney, d. Salem Dec. 1729. Mary (5,) b. July 
30, 1672, m. Thomas Rich of Salem, June 30, 1699. Sarah 
(6,) b. about 1677, m. Joseph Putney, May 18, 1697, and 
went to Oxford in 1728. John (7,) b. Mar. 20, 1679, m. 
Elizabeth Daniels of Watertown, Apr. 8, 1701. Thomas (8,) 
house Wright, b. about 1680, m. Mary Moulton, dau. of Rob- 
ert and Mary (Cook) Moulton, d. probably at Salem ; no 
record of death. Samuel (9,) b. about 1682, m. Mary Upton 
of Reading, Oct. 15, 1706, d. after 1720. Jonathan (10,) 
b. about 1684, m. Mary Graves, Dec. 6, 1705, d. after 1720. 



65 



David (11,) 1). June 12, 1688, m. Martha Graves, Sept. 4, 
1712, d. after 1720. 



DANIEL McINTIRE. (4.) 

Daniel Mclntire, son of Philip (1,) went from Read- 
ing to Salem about 1696, and had children, Daniel (12,) 
b. Salem, Aug. 1696, m. 1, Abigail Fraile, Nov. 21, 1716, 
and 2, Elizabeth Gleason, Feb. 9, 1734. He settled at Oxford 
and died there after 1750. Judith (13,) b. about 1698, m. 
John Moulton, Jr., March 13, 1721, and went to Oxford. 
Ebenezer (14,) b. Salem, 1700, went to Oxford in 1733, and 
was one of the founders and on the first board of selectmen 
of Charlton, d. at Charlton about March 29, 1776. [See in 
appendix, p. 71, the sketch of his life.] Thomas (15,) b. at 
Salem, d. young. Nathan (16,) b. Salem, about 1702, m. 
Jemima Ames, Nov. 29, 1723, and settled at Charlton. Abigail 
(17,) bapt. at Salem, Sept. 5, 1714. Daniel's (4,) son Eben- 
ezer settled his father's estate in Essex County, probate records 
No. 18096. 



THOMAS McINTIRE. (8.) 

Thomas Mclntire, son of Philip (1,) had children, Obe- 
diah (18,) b. about 1700, m. Sarah Upton at Salem, April 23, 
1731, and settled at Charlton in 1728. Thomas (19,) b. Apl. 
1, 1701, m. his cousin Mary Mclntire, May 23, 1723, and set- 
tled at Charlton. Eleazer (20,) [both he and Obediah (18,) 
are ancestors of William H. Dexter, the donor of Charlton 



66 



town hall,] b. 1702, m. Martha , came to Charlton in 

1754, d. 1792, at Charlton. 



DANIEL McINTIRE. (12.) 

Daniel Mclntire, son of Daniel (4,) went from Salem 
to Oxford about 1730, preceding his brother Ebenezer by 
about three years. In a deed of land to his brother Eben- 
ezer, dated Feb. 12, 1731, Essex deeds, book 60, page 199, 
he describes himself as of Oxford. He died after 1750. Had 
children, Daniel, Job, Noah and Abigail. [Noah was a soldier 
in the French and Indian War. See appendix, p. 73.] 



EBENEZER McINTIRE. (14.) 

Ebenezer Mclntire, son of Daniel (4,) is the innkeeper, 
founder and member of the first board of selectmen of 
Charlton, and the ancestor of Charles J. Mclntire, the present 
First Judge of the Probate Court and the Court of Insolvency of 
the County of Middlesex. [See appendix, page 71 , for sketch 
of life.] Ebenezer married Ame, or Emma, Harwood, dau. 
of David Harwood, at Salem, May 23, 1728. He went to 
Oxford (Charlton) in 1733, and died there in March, 1776. 
His children were Ebenezer (21,) b. at Salem, 1729, ra. Abi- 
gail Harwood, Dec. 1777, d. Charlton, June 18, 1789. Ezra 
(22,) b. at Salem, 1730, went to Oxford with his father, m. 
Elizabeth March, July 20, 1756, d. at Charlton, Aug. 1799. 
Ebenezer had three other children, viz. : Nathaniel, b. about 
1757, d. 1789. Daniel, d. 1803, and Amy. 



67 



OBEDIAH McINTlRE. (18,) 

Obediah Mclntire, son of Thomas (8,) and ancestor of 
William H. Dexter, was born at Salem about 1700, ra. 

Mary , and went to Oxford 1727-28. His children were 

Miriam (23,) wife of Gardner Mclntire, Jesse (24,) Obediah 
(25,) Ephraim (26,) Dorcas (27,) wife of Putney, Deborah 
(28,) wife of Nathaniel Mclntire, Elizabeth (29,) wife of 
Eleazer Mclntire, Jr., a son of Eleazer (20,) Mehitable (30,) 
wife of Daniel Alexander, and Sarah (31,) wife of Nathan 
Dennis. Obediah was a man of wealth, and one of the first 
board of selectmen of Charlton. 

ELEAZEE McINTIRE. (20.) 

Eleazer Mclntire, son of Thomas (8,) born at Salem, 

1702, m. Martha , d. Charlton, 1792. Children, 

Eleazer, Jr., (32,) Mehitable (33,) and probably Elijah, 
who m. (1) Hannah Wilson, June 6, 1782, (2) Jerusha Car- 
penter, June 1, 1800, and (3) Eliza Goodell. Eleazer, Sr., 
went to Oxford (Charlton) about 1734. Was one of the 
school committee of Charlton. 

ELEAZER McINTIRE, Junior. (32.) 

Eleazer Mclntire, Junior, son of Eleazer (20,) m. his 
cousin Elizabeth Mclntire (29,) May 3, 1759. No record 
of death of either hu;il)and or wife. Their children were, 
Ithamar (34,) b. Mar. 27, 1700, d. unmarried. Elnathan 
(35,) b. Feb. 24, 1762, d. 1841. Stephanus (36,) b. Nov. 
3, 1766. Elias (37,) b. July 7, 1769. Mehitable (38,) 

68 




John G. Hammond 
Selectman 



b. Feb. 3, 1772, m. Jesse Burdon. Martha (39,) b. July 10, 
1777, m. John Chard. 

ELNATHAN McINTIRE, (35.) 

Elnathan Mclntire, son of Eleazer, Junior, (32,) b. at 
Charlton, Feb. 24, 1762, m. Martha Thompson of Dud- 
ley, Dec. 1780. She d. June 18, 1835. He d. Oct. 19, 
1841. Children, Sally (40,) b. Dec. 22, 1781, m. Jabez 
Finch and went to New York. Miranda (41,) b. Dec. 23, 
1784, d. young. Matilda, (42,) b. Jan. 13, 1787, m. George 
West, Oct. 1805. Diana (43,) b. Mar. 7, 1789, m. Salem 
Douty, Dec. 1, 1824. She d. Dec. 22, 1892, aged 103 yrs., 
9 mos., 15 days. Darling (44,) b. Apl. 18, 1791. Lucinda 
(45,) b. Apl. 8, 1793, m. Feb. 12, 1818, John Dexter, and 
William H. Dexter is their son. Melinda (46,) b. Apl. 18, 
1796, m. Jesse Brownell, Aug. 16, 1816. 

EZRA McINTIRE. (22.) 

Ezra Mclntire, son of Ebenezer (14,) was b. at Sa- 
lem, 1730, and went with his father to Oxford (Charlton) 
in 1733. He m. Elizabeth March, July 20, 1756, and d. at 
Charlton, Aug. 1799. His children were, Ezra (47,) b. Jan. 
2, 1758. William (48,) b. Apr. 19, 1759, d. Nov. 10, 1764. 
David (49,) b. Aug. 9, 1762, d. before 1802. Ebenezer 
(50,) b. Mch. 21, 1765. Amy (51,) b. Aug. 20, 1767, m. 
Mar. 22, 1792, Daniel Marble. Amos (52,) b. Aug. 23, 
1770, d. 1801. Ezra the senior, was one of the ablest men 
Charlton has ever had. During the Revolutionary War he 



69 



marched as a " minute man " on several alarms, served upon 
the committee of correspondence and safety and other impor- 
tant committees of the town, and at its close he was elected as 
its representative to the convention called in 1788, to ratify 
the constitution of the United States of America. 

EBENEZER McINTIRE. (50.) 

Ebenezer Mclntire, son of Ezra (22,) b. Charlton, 
Mar. 21, 1765, m. 1st, Elizabeth, or " Betsey " Holraan of 
Sutton, June 5, 1791, who d. 1807. m. 2d, Mary Bass of Ash- 
ford, Conn., June 11, 1809. She d. June 20, 1859. He d. 
Jan. 19, 1843. Children by 1st wife, Sally (53,) b. Feb. 6, 
1792, m. Jeremiah Holman, Dec. 14, 1809. Mercy (54,) b. 
Oct. 23, 1793. Betsey (55,) b. Oct. 30, 1795. Naomi (56,) 
b. Dec. 29, 1797, m. James Green, Nov. 9, 1823. Fanny 

(57,) b. Feb. 28, 1800, m. Fisher. Elizabeth (58,) 

b. Feb. 2, 1801, m. Elliot Converse, May 10, 1825. Eben- 
ezer, Junior, (59,) b. Feb. 21, 1802, m. Amelia A. Lan- 
dais, and d. Dec. 13, 1871, at Cambridge. He is the father 
of Judge Mclntire. Children by 2d wife, Sanmel Bass 
(60,) b. Jan. 13, 1812. Mary Lucy (61,) b. Jan. 12, 1814, 
d. 1871. Pamelia (62,) b. Jan. 21, 1815, m. S. Felton 
Shepard, d. at Worcester, Jan. 19, 1890. Lutina (63,) b. 
July 30, 1816, d. at Worcester, 1895. Harriet W. (64,) b. 
July 22, 1818, d. at Worcester, June 30, 1892. David (65,) 
b. May 15, 1819, d. at Worcester, Aug. 1894. Amos (66,) 
b. Aug. 8, 1822, d. in Illinois, about 1870. 



70 



SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 

EBENEZER MACKINTIRE 

ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE 

TOWN OF CHARLTON. 

[From " Publication No. 4," of the Mass. See. of Colonial Wars.] 

Ebenezer Mclntire, or " Mackintire," as he spelled it without 
abbreviation, was one of the first settlers and founders of the 
town of Charlton, in Worcester county, Massachusetts, and 
in the course of time became a leading and influential citizen. 
He was the grandson of Philip Mackintire, who came from the 
Highlands of Argyll in Scotland to Reading, in this State, 
about the year 1648, probably with the great number of pris- 
oners of war sent to this country by Cromwell after the dis- 
astrous battle of Dunbar, or of Worcester ; and the son of 
Daniel Mackintire, of Salem, who was born at Reading, Sept. 
20, 1669, and his wife Judith Putney. Ebenezer was born at 
Salem in 1700, and married there Amy Harwood, on May 23, 
1728. About this time began a popular movement among 
the farmers of Essex county to take up the unoccupied fertile 
lands in the western portion of the town of Oxford. A com- 
pany of six persons had purchased about 30,000 acres in 1713, 
and in 1730 a section of about 17,000 acres was conveyed by 
Thomas Freake, one of the company, to Frcake Kitchin, the 

71 



wife of Edward Kitchin, of Salem, who divided it into par- 
cels, or farm lots, and put them upon the market. Nathan 
and Daniel, brothers of Ebenezer, and also his Cousin Oba- 
diah, bought some of this land, and moved upon it soon after 
the decease of the elder Daniel, which occurred in 1729 ; and 
Ebenezer, after settling his father's estate, could not remain 
long behind, so he followed them in October or November, 
1733. The land which he purchased was in a central location, 
and he proceeded to erect thereon a substantial house, for 
the purpose of both a dwelling and tavern, which during 
the remainder of his lifetime was always kept open as a place 
of entertainment for strangers and travellers. 

As the settlement grew in size and importance, the inhabi- 
tants became dissatisfied, from the fact that many of them 
were " more than ten miles from the meeting-house," far from 
the schools and pound, yet that they were " always taxed to 
all the charges of the town " (of Oxford) ; and Ebenezer was 
among the foremost who urged for separate government. In 
1754 he became one of the petitioners to the General Court, 
to set off their portion as a distinct town or district. The 
petition was granted, and on Feb. 10, 1755, the warrant 
which issued for the first town meeting warned the free- 
holders of the district of Charlton "to meet at the dwelling- 
house of Ebenezer Mackintire." The meeting was duly held 
on March 12, and Ebenezer was chosen a member of the first 
board of selectmen. All of the subsequent town meetings, as 
also the church gatherings, were held at his house down to 
the year 1761, when the meeting-house was completed. On 
Jan. 16, 1758, it was voted, in town meeting, that the meet- 
ing-house " should be located at the place of a stake a little 

72 



north of Ebenezer Mackintire's house." In February, 1759, 
he gave the land, with sufficient in addition for the purpose 
of a common and training field. His deed of this plot was 
not executed, however, until Dec. 17, 1766, after the meet- 
ing-house was completed. In it he recites that, " In consid- 
eration of the love and good-will I do bear to the said District 
of Charlton, and to the inhabitants thereof, ... I do 
freely, fully and absolutely give, grant, bargain, aliene, convey 
and confirm . . . , being the spot where the meeting- 
house in Charlton now stands ... to be for the use of 
said district for their meeting-house to stand upon and for a 
training-field, and no other use," etc. In the town records 
Charlton is called a "District" down to the summer of 1775. 
On March 12, 1764, he also presented to the town an acre of 
land, near the centre, for a burial-ground, and this, with 
subsequent additions, is still used as a cemetery. It contains 
his remains and also those of many of his descendants. He 
further gave the land for a tcwn pound. 

During the French and Indian war on the rolls of soldiers 
who shared the glories and hardships of the several expeditions 
sent forth are found the names of many Charlton men, among 
these a number of the descendants of Philip Mackintire, of 
Reading. In 1756, in Massachusetts Archives, we find that 
Noah Mclntire, of Charlton, a private in Captain Philip Rich- 
ardson's Company, Colonel Timothy Ruggles' Regiment, was 
taken sick in camp at Lake George ; and in August, 1757, in 
Captain Richard Dresser's Company, which marched from 
Charlton on the alarm for the relief of Fort William Henry, 
there were nine Mclntires, among whom was our Ebenezer, 
and two of his sons, Ebenezer, Jr., and Daniel. We find 

73 



him styled, in the town records of March 18, 1765, ''Lieuten- 
ant Ebenezer Mclntire," but no record of his commission as 
lieutenant can now be found. Tradition says of him that he 
was considerably more than six feet in height, and possessed 
of great strength of body and character. His walking-stick 
now in existence, goes far toward proving the assertion as to 
his height, and his character is shown by the many positions 
of trust confided to him, beginning at the time when, though 
not the eldest son, he was made administrator of his father's 
estate, down to the time of his death. He was a natural 
leader of men, and the records of the town of Charlton show 
constantly the confidence which his fellow-citizens placed in 
him, by elections to ofiices and appointments upon commit- 
tees, which this sketch will not permit to give in detail. He 
died in March, 1776, in the second year of the Revolutionary 
war ; but not until he had lent his voice and encouragement 
toward the vigorous prosecution of the rights of the people. 
In the year 1773 he took active part in the town meetings, 
where patriotic resolutions were presented and adopted. He 
lived also long enough to see his son Ezra, already a promi- 
nent citizen, appointed, Jan. 9, 1775, a member of the " Com- 
mittee to see that the direction of the Continental and 
Provincial Congresses were strictly adhered to." He had his 
soul stirred by the alarm of Lexington and Concord, when 
this same son marched with his Charlton company of minute 
men to aid in repelling the British forces. Two other sons 
were likewise minute men of the Revolution, and a grandson 
became a continental soldier, serving the greater portion of 
the war. His son Ezra was later chosen, and served through- 
out the war, as one of the " Committee of Correspondence and 

74 



Safety" of the town, and after peace was declared, having 
succeeded his father in the esteem and confidence of his 
townspeople, was elected and acted as their representative 
to the convention, called in 1788, to ratify the Constitution 
of the United States of America. 

Worcester County Deeds, IV., 452 ; LVI., 317. 

Charlton Town Records, 1755, 57, 58, 59, 64, 73. 

Mass. Archives, LXXVII., 17; XCV., 519; XII., 38. 

See Petition to the General Court, 1754, by the Inhabitants of 
Charlton District. 

Worcester County Deeds, Book 56, page 317. 

Town Records, March 12, 1764. 

Kurd's History of Worcester County, 1889, Vol. I., pp. 754 and 
755. 

Records of the Mass. Convention of 1788, to ratify the U. S. 
Constitution. 



75 



William H. Dexter. 

William H. Dexter, (1,) to whom the town of Charlton is 
so greatly indebted for its beautiful town hall and library 
building, was born at Charlton January 11, 1823, and married 
Eliza A. Foss in 1847. He is sixth in descent from Phili}) 
Mclntire of Reading, through Eleazer, as follows : 

2. John Bradford Dexter, 1795-1867. Lucinda Mclntire, 1793-1865. 

3. Elnathan Mclntire, 1762-1841. Martha Thompson, 1761-1835. 

4. Eleazer Mclntire, Jr. Elizabeth Mclntire. 

5. Eleazer Mclntire, 1702-1792. Martha Putney. 

6. Thomas Mclntire, 1680. Mary Moulton. 

7. PhiUp Mclntire, 1630-1720. Mary . 

He is likewise sixth in descent from Philip, through Obe- 
diah Mclntire, father of Elizabeth, as follows : 

2. John Bradford Dexter, 1795-1867. Lucinda Mclntire, 1793-1865. 

3. Elnathan Mclniire. 1762-1841. Martha Thompson, 1761-1836. 

4. Elizabeth Mclntire. Eleazer Mclntire, Jr. 

5. Obediah Mclntire, 1700. Mary . 

6. Thomas Mclntire, 1680. Mary Moulton. 

7. PhUip Mclntire, 1630-1720. Mary . 



76 




Hon. Ifi I rs r.. Dodge 



Rufus B. Dodge. 

1. Rufus Brown Dodge, ex-mayor of Worcester, Massa- 
chusetts, is a native of Charlton, his father having been town 
clerk and filled other important ojQSces of trust there. Rufus 
is now a leading lawyer of the county. He was born Novem- 
ber 24, 1861. Married Mary Cochran Perry, July 7, 1887, 
and is one of the foremost citizens of Worcester. He is a 
descendant of Philip Mclntire of Reading, as follows : 

2. Rufus Brown Dodge, b. Charlton, Feb. 9, 1821, m. 
April 18, 1847, Augusta Morse of Charlton, d. Oct. 15, 1900. 

3. Gibbs Dodge, b. Charlton, June 5, 1789, m. 1st, Jan. 
10, 1810, Polly Wakefield, m. 2d, April 19, 1819, Polly 
Wakefield, (cousin of first wife and mother of Rufus B.,) 
d. Charlton, July 10, 1863. 

4. Moses Dodge, m. Tryphena Mclntire (who was bora 
Apl. 3, 1767,) d. Charlton, Feb. 21, 1826. 

5. Mary Mclntire, daughter of Nathan, b. about 1735, 
m. Nov. 6, 1756, Robert Mclntire of Dudley, b. about 1734, 
d. Mch. 12, 1813. She d. Oct. 5, 1798, at Charlton. 

6. Nathan Mclntire, (16,) b. Salem, 1702, went to Ox- 
ford, m. Nov. 29, 1723, Jemima Ames, and d. after 1731. 

7. Daniel Mclntire, (4,) b. Reading, Sept. 20, 1669, m. 
Judith Putney, went to Salem and d. there in Dec. 1729. 

8. Philip Mclntire, (1,) b. Scotland, about 1630, came to 
this country and settled at Reading about 1648, m. in 1666, 
Mary, (surname unknown), d. at Reading in 1720. 



77 



Historical Points. 

TOWN MEETINGS, TOWN HALLS AND PUBLIC 

LIBRARY. 

[The following facts concerning town meetings were kindly furnished by Mr. M. Daniel 

Woodbury.] 

THE first town meeting (or District Meeting) was held at 
the house of Ebenezer Mclntire, and from then all meet- 
ings were called to be held at his house until the meeting- 
house was built and completed. The last meeting at his 
house was on May 26th, 1760. The first held in the meeting- 
house was on Jan. 6, 1761. This structure was 50 feet long 
and 40 feet wide, with both roof and walls shingled. It had 
no bell, and neither tower nor belfry. Like the oldest 
school-houses in the town, some of which date back to the 
early years of the last century, it had probably a "hip roof." 

Town meetings were held in the first meeting-house from 
1761 until 1802. The meeting called for Nov. 1, 1802, was 
adjourned to Nov. 15, 1802, which latter date was the last 
time the people met for public business in the original meet- 
ingf-house. It stood on the land at the Centre which Eben- 
ezer Mclntire gave for a meeting-house and training field ; and 
the road ran by its easterly side. 

The town ceased to support the minister by a tax levy some- 
time between 1780 and 1785, and a religious society was 
formed soon after. In 1797 or 1798, the society was incor- 
porated by the name of " The Proprietors of the New Centre 
Congregational Meeting-house." This society bought land of 



78 



John D. Dunbar and proceeded to build a large house of wor- 
ship, with a hundred pews on the floor. It was placed on the 
east side of the road facing the old first meeting-house. 
When completed the town voted to pay the proprietors $30 
per year for the privilege of using it for town business on 
any day excepting Sundays, Fast days and Thanksgiving 
days. 

The first town meeting called in this new edifice was held 
Mar. 7, -1803. The old meeting-house was torn down and 
removed during the same year. 

Town meetings continued to be held in the new meeting- 
house until sometime in the year 1816, about the time 
of the so-called "Unitarian Controversy." After this for 
several years the meetings were held as follows : Mar. 3, 1817, 
April 7, 1817, and May 5, 1817, in the "North" Meeting- 
house, belonging to the Baptists at the Northside. At the 
last of these meetings a committee was chosen to examine the 
hall in Maj. John Spurr's brick store, and a town meeting 
was called there Mar. 2, 1818, and meetings were subse- 
quently held there until 1822. 

For sometime prior to 1822 the town debated the question 
of buying the Centre Meeting-house for a "Town House." 
One of the strongest arguments advanced was, that if it 
owned the meeting-house the opposing religious factions 
might be united and brought to work in harmony. In 1822 
the town acquired a controlling interest in the Centre Meet- 
ing-house, and although it retained its interest but a short 
time meetings were called at what was designated in the 
call as the "Town House" from 1822 until 1839. 

April 1, 1839, was the last meeting in the "Town House." 



79 



This " Town House " was the " New Centre Congregational 
Meeting-house" of 1803, as shown by the town records. 

Some time after 1830 a union was effected between the 
Unitarians at the " Centre " and the Universalists at the 
" Northside," and a society was formed, styled the " Union 
Society," whereupon the society decided to take down the 
Centre Meeting-house and rebuild a smaller one upon the 
same site. The town still had its rights in the house and lot, 
and it was not until after resistance and considerable discus- 
sion that an agreement was reached with the Union Society 
whereby the town would build a foundation suitable for a 
basement hall and rooms in which to hold town meetings and 
do town business, and the society would place over this, upon 
the foundation, a meeting-house for religious purposes, and 
keep the same in repair. If the society failed to do its part 
it would forfeit the whole to the town. In addition the soci- 
ety paid to the town $333 toward the expense of the founda- 
tion. 

In .July, 1839, while this work was in progress, a town 
meeting was called to be held in the "hall of James Lamson, 
Innholder." This was the hall of the old " Spurr Tavern." 

On Nov. 11, 1839, the annual election was had in the "new 
Town House," which is the church basement " Town Hall," and 
where, until the completion of the Dexter Town Hall, town 
meetings were continuously afterwards held. It was the 
northwest corner of this basement town hall which was parti- 
tioned off to form a town office which was called the " Select- 
men's Room." Here was done the town business, and here 
the town records were kept for many years. In 1885, the 
library which the town had acquired from the " Young Men's 

80 



Library Association," and which it had agreed to maintain as a 
" Free Public Library," had increased so largely that it de- 
manded more room, and in consequence the upper story of the 
schoolhouse at the Centre was so arranged that a part was 
used for the accommodation of the library and the rest for a 
" Selectmen's Room. " Since 1885 the town made no use of the 
old " Selectmen's Room " in the church, excepting that for a 
few years a lockup was maintained there, two cells with iron 
gratings having been constructed for that purpose. 

The new " Dexter Memorial Hall " stands upon the lot 
whereon formerly stood the " Spurr Tavern." The east line 
of the lot forms the west line of the old first " Meeting-house 
lot" (the lot given by Ebenezer Mclntire). It is nearly op- 
posite the Universalist Meeting-house under which was the 
"Town Hall." 

In front of the north end of the " Dexter " hall is the site of 
the old " Spurr Tavern," afterwards known as the "Bellevue 
House," and in front of the south end stood the " tavern barn." 
On the lot adjoining at the north stands the store built on 
the site of Spurr's " Brick Store," and on the lot adjoining 
at the south stand the buildings of Benjamin Burlingame. 
Burlingame's house was built by William Weld, and it was 
known for years as " Weld's Tavern." Later, for many years, 
it was owned by David F. Craig, and known as the " Craig 
Place " or " Craig's Hall." 

The house known as the " tavern " of Ebenezer Mclntire, 
and where the first town meeting was held, stood on the same 
site and was removed a short distance at the time Weld built 
the present house. Afterward, sometime in the fifties, it was 
taken down and reconstructed as a two-tenement house on 



81 



the road leading from Southbridge to Sturbridge, where it still * 
stands. 

MILITARY HISTORY. 

Charlton settlers had no troubles with the Indians of the 
Province, who had become completely subdued and dis- 
heartened after " Lovewell's Fight" at Pequawet in 1725 ; but 
they shared in the general excitement attending the declara- 
tion of "King George's War" in 1744, the capture of Louis- 
burg in 1745, and its surrender again to the French under 
the treaty of 1748. 

The roll of soldiers from Charlton who saw service in the 
Revolutionary War reads like a multiplied list of the tax- 
payers of the town when it was incorporated, and it contains 
the names of descendants of nearly every family of original 
settlers. The records show that in Col. Larned's regiment at 
Roxbury from April 17 to Dec. 26, 1775, she furnished 41 
men, and in Col. Wm. Campbell's regiment, 28. During the 
month of December, 1775, 30 more men were furnished as 
recruits. In 1776, 40 enlisted for one year. In March, 1777, 
48 men were raised to complete the quota, and in August of 
that year 36 marched to Rhode Island in the company of 
Capt. Abijah Lamb. In 1780, 24 were drafted into the 
regular service. Jacob Davis, Reuben Davis, John Nichols, 
Samuel Curtis, and Abijah Lamb were captains ; Jonathan 
Tucker, Wm. Tucker, David Rich and Robert Kelley, lieu- 
tenants. 

As late as 1829, the Rev. John Wilder, in an address, or 
sermon, mentioned the names of sixteen Continental soldiers 
of Charlton whom he had personally known, four of whom 



82 




Cii.uNcv \\'. ]'iKi-; 
Sei.kctman 



were then living, and one present to hear the address. The 
names which he gave were John Thompson, Elijah Thompson, 
James Morey, Moses Morey, Benjamin Morey, Ebenezer 
Town, Eleazer Bemis, Jesse Smith, Jonathan Bemis, Jonathan 
Goodell, Elisha Ward, Peter Lamb, Naham Lamb, Jacob 
Town, Solomon Jones, and Benjamin Hobbs. Charlton min- 
ute men also went forth on the alarms of April 19, 1775, 
Dec. 10, 1776, and July 29, 1780. 

CHURCH DELINQUENTS. 

Thomas Mclntire of Charlton (see address, p. 26,) a 
brother of Obediah and Eleazer, came up from Salem in 1734 
and took a farm. In 1741 he was summoned before the Court 
of Sessions to answer to a charge of absenting himself from 
church worship. In making his defence he stated that he 
lived at a very great distance from the meeting-house, and 
that the roads were in such bad condition that it was almost 
impossible for him to get there from his home ; but he was 
held to pay the costs of the prosecution amounting to three 
pounds and sixteen shillings. Subsequently his name appears 
upon the petitions to the General Court to set off Charlton 
from Oxford, and he became one of the most active among 
those who sought to create a new town. 

Ebenezer Humphrey in 1738 was fined for absenting him- 
self from public worship, and in 1742 was fined again for 
the same offence. He was a son of Arthur Humphrey, and 
was born at Woodstock, Conn., Aug. 22, 1692. He had 
been a constable, and, in 1734 and 1735, a selectman of 
Oxford. His son Ebenezer, born in 1741, was a captain in 

83 



the war of the Revolution and took part in the capture of 
Burgoyne in 1777. 

CHARACTER OF HER CITIZENS. 

The early inhabitants of the town were fair types of the 
people of the whole province, who never would surrender in 
the slightest degree the ancient liberties to which they asserted 
themselves to be entitled. The royal governors, having very 
lofty views of the kingly prei'ogative, were exceedingly an- 
noyed at the independence exhibited upon all occasions, and 
in their reports to the Privy Council they said that the people 
were factious and disobedient to the laws, and further that 
their heads were turned by political crotchets. Many schemes 
were submitted whereby to limit the power of the people ; but 
it was Gov. Shirley whe devised the cunning method of a 
"stamp-duty " that Parliament might impose in order to meet 
the expenses of the French and Indian War, and he is entitled 
to the credit of pushing the colonies into the open rebellion 
and revolution which culminated in their complete indepen- 
dence. " No taxation without representation," was the mem- 
orable principle then announced, and the world stands indebted 
to America, and incidentally to Gov. Shirley, for establishing 
this great moral principle, which the sophistries of modern 
commercialism never will be able to permanently shake. 



84 



